Pakistan's next Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is no stranger to Indian premier Manmohan Singh, whom he frequently meets during international seminars and conferences, according to an interview with Aziz aired on Sunday.
"He (Singh) is a good fellow and a humble person. Personalities do count in bilateral relations," Aziz said in the interview with national television, but added that national interests are given priority. Shaukat Aziz said relations between Pakistan and India were improving and the environment was "conducive" for dialogue.
"One can hope that under the leadership of Manmohan Singh the process of dialogue between the two countries will move ahead in a positive direction."
He said he hoped that the whole range of issues, including Indian occupied Kashmir, could be settled in accordance with the wishes of all the stakeholders.
Aziz, a technocrat with no political background who was named by President Pervez Musharraf as his finance minister within weeks of Musharraf's October 1999 coup, is credited with salvaging Pakistan's economy. Aziz said he will make every effort to make Pakistan an "Asian Tiger".
"There is a very promising human capital in Pakistan which if duly utilised can help achieve rapid economic progress," Aziz said.
Aziz was nominated to succeed premier Zafarullah Jamali, who resigned last month, but is a senator in parliament's upper house and must first be elected as a lower house MP to serve as prime minister.
Ruling Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was sworn in on June 30 as interim prime minister for about two months until Aziz can take his place.
"I never thought of becoming a prime minister, I never lobbied for this position but I have been praying throughout my life for an opportunity to serve the nation and Islam", Aziz said.
"Now when I have got an opportunity, I will utilise all my potential to materialise my cherished ambition."
Opposition parties are considering fielding joint candidates against Aziz and former Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan may go head-to-head with him in Attock.
"Imran Khan is consulting all opposition parties as there is growing pressure on him from within his party to contest the election from Attock," Akbar Babar, spokesman for Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, told AFP on Sunday.
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