NEW DELHI (TIP): Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday and handed over an invitation from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of the Pakistan prime minister, was with Manmohan Singh for around 20 minutes in the morning. “He extended an invitation from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Pakistan and his village,” a source told IANS. Sharif called on the prime minister shortly after his arrival in New Delhi. Shahbaz Sharif “delivered a message of goodwill from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while emphasizing Pakistan’s desire to forge friendly and cooperative relations with India, in the interest of peace and prosperity of the people of the two countries and of the region”, said a Pakistan High Commission statement.

The Pakistan Punjab chief minister also underscored the importance of resumption of dialogue and peaceful resolution of all issues. “The meeting was cordial, constructive and forward looking.” Shahbaz Sharif was accompanied by Special Assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, Minister of State for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan and Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashood Khan besides outgoing High Commissioner Salman Bashir. Shahbaz Sharif is here on the invitation of his Punjab counterpart in India, Parkash Singh Badal. He is to also to meet Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma. He is slated to be the chief guest at the World Kabaddi Championship final in Ludhiana Saturday.