ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday congratulated Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his appointment as Prime Minister of Kuwait.

In a Twitter message, PM Shehbaz said that he look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen Pakistan-Kuwait fraternal relations, rooted deep in shared values and commonality of interests. Kuwait named the emir’s son as prime minister on Sunday, replacing caretaker premier Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid who faced a combative parliament amid a feud between the government and elected assembly that has hindered fiscal reform.

Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who took over most of the ruling emir’s duties late last year, named Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah to the post in an emiri decree. Last month the crown prince said he was dissolving parliament and would issue a decree for early elections, a move welcomed by opposition lawmakers who had staged a sit-in to press the prince to name a new prime minister.