The move comes as part of the implementation of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's decision to reactivate the Presidential Pardon Committee.

The committee was first formed in October 2016 and facilitated the release of thousands of prisoners via presidential pardons in the following years.

The new committee will comprise Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee in the House of Representatives Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, MP Tarek El-Kholy, former member of the 2016s committee Karim El-Sakka, human rights lawyer Tarek El-Awady, and Egypt's former manpower minister Kamal Abu Eita.

The scope  of the committee, which started work immediately upon reactivation, has been expanded to cooperation with state institutions and NGOs and to include male and female indebted prisoners. 

The interior ministry said the move was made after an examination conducted by the pardon committee.

A list of those released was not immediately available.

According to the Egyptian constitution, the president can issue pardons for prisoners who had received final court rulings.

Egyptian presidents traditionally issue pardons several times a year, usually on major national and religious holidays.

On Sunday, the public prosecution ordered the release of 41 pretrial detainees.