KARACHI: Authorities on Thursday released 150 Indian fishermen, who left for their home country from Karachi’s Cantonment Station by Karakoram Express this evening.

The train, with two bogies housing Indian fishermen, will reach Lahore in 20 hours, a Pakistan Railway official told APP.

The Edhi Foundation, run by philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, made arrangements for their travelling from Landhi Prison to Cantt Station and onwards to Wagah border.

A group of Edhi Foundation workers will accompany the released fishermen up to Wagah till the they are handed over to Indian security agencies.

The fishermen were brought to the station in two buses and four Edhi ambulances amid tight security cover of the Sindh police.

Son of Abdul Sattar Edhi, Faisal Edhi, was present at the station to bid farewell to the fishermen. He gave US $100 to each Indian fisherman to help them meet their travelling expenses to reach their homes from Wagah border. They were also given ration bags by the Edhi Foundation.

The fishermen smiled and waved to the people at the railway station as their train left the platform. Most fishermen were from the Indian city of Gujrat.

The people at the Cantt Station witnessed an emotional scene when a women from Karachi came over to say goodbye to her relative with tearful eyes.

Deputy Secretary Sindh Home Department Dr Mansoor Wassan in a media chat said Pakistan has released the Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture and “we hope India will duly reciprocate”.

Another official of Sindh Home Department Dr Nadeem Ali Memon said that during this year, Pakistan had released at least 300 Indian fishermen in groups.

He said these fishermen have been released after completion of legal formalities in compliance with their repatriation order issued by the Interior Ministry.

Earlier on Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced India's decision to release detained Pakistani fishermen on the occasion of Ramazan.

Take a look: Modi calls Nawaz, extends wishes for Ramazan

"The fishermen released will be able to be with their families to observe this blessed month (Ramazan)," said Modi on his Twitter account.

Nawaz later announced that Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan would also be released forthwith as a gesture of goodwill.