NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that he and the new Indian government led by Narendra Modi could easily work with each other, hoping that their personal focus on boosting business could help turn a new page in bilateral ties.
The Pakistani premier is currently in New Delhi to attend the Indian Prime Minister-elect Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
In an interview with the Indian Daily ‘Hindustan Times’, Sharif said that he was carrying a message of goodwill, love and friendship for the Indian people.
“I am here to turn a new page in India-Pakistan relations,” he said. “We (India and Pakistan) have a historic moment to open a new chapter. The new government under Mr Modi has a strong mandate and I look forward to picking up the relationship from where I and (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee left it in 1999.”
Sharif said that he is regarded as a friend of businessmen while new the Indian prime minister is also perceived as a business-friendly person.
“I am regarded as a friend of businessmen and we are regarded as a business-friendly government. Modi too is perceived as a business-friendly person. He has a model of development,” he said.
“We can easily work with each other,” the Pakistani premier added.
The prime minister said that Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of energy and he would offer high returns to the Indian companies on their investment in this sector.
“I will be happy to have Indians invest in Pakistan. We have an acute shortage of energy. If Indians come, they will find Pakistani markets very attractive, with returns as high as 30 percent.” Sharif said.
