The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has congratulated Raja Pervez Ashraf on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. In his message, Dr. Singh expressed confidence that both India and Pakistan will continue to make progress in their bilateral dialogue on all issues and build good neighborly relations by strengthening cooperation in all the areas for the benefit of the people of both the countries.

Mr. Ashraf, a stalwart of the ruling PPP, was administered the oath of office by President Asif Ali Zardari last night, after he was elected as the new Prime Minister by the National Assembly.