41 Pakistani prisoners serving jail sentences under various charges in Sri Lanka arrived in Pakistan on a special flight of Pakistan International Airlines.

Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka retired Major General Muhammad Saad Khattak bade farewell to the prisoners. He advised them to refrain from any crimes in the future so as to lead a better life with their loved ones once they reach Pakistan.

They committed to lead productive life once they were out of the prison," the Twitter handle of Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka said.

On their arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, a medical checkup of the prisoners was conducted. These prisoners will complete their remaining sentence in Pakistan.

This will be the first repatriation of prisoners in seven years under the bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) signed by Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2004. Under this agreement, transfers are allowed in cases where sentences exceed a minimum of six months.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari welcomed the repatriation of the Pakistani prisoners and told Arab News that their return 'is in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policy to look after every Pakistani in foreign country especially those in distress'.