Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) have welcomed the "goodwill gesture" shown by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani releasing 100 Indian fishermen and a positive response from Indian government to release 94 Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails.
In a press release the two organisations demanded the two governments to release all the fishermen in captivity with them. They also demanded release of all the seized boats for their being source of livelihood of poor fishermen. The two organisations urged the civil society of India and Pakistan to raise their voice on the issue of detained fishermen. They said poor fishermen have had enough in prisons for years on charges of crossing the water zones of their respective countries and should be released from both sides.