The Pakistani government Thursday released seven Iranian citizens who had been arrested for illegal entry into the Pakistani border town of Taftan.

The private News Network International (NNI) quoted official sources as saying that the seven were handed over to the Iranian authorities. They were arrested Monday night after crossing into the Pakistani territory.

Iran closed its border with Pakistan in protest, which has affected some 5,000 workers across the border, according to the NNI. The workers said that they earned 500 to 600 rupees (about 8- 10 U.S. dollars) daily through transfer of cross border goods. But they are jobless after the incident.

Under a 1957 agreement, Iran imports fruit and vegetables daily from Pakistan and exports plastic and other items to Pakistan.

President of Taftan Fruit Market Haji Zafran Bareech has said that traders will suffer huge losses if border restrictions continue for one or two days.

He asked the two governments to soon solve the problem so they could start supply of fruit and vegetables.

Source: Xinhua