India's Modi congratulates Pakistan's newly-elected PM Shehbaz Sharif

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

"Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan," Modi wrote in a statement on Twitter.

He further said the two countries could "focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people."

Sharif was elected as the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan with 174 votes after the National Assembly ousted Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote.

In his speech after winning a parliamentary vote to elect a new prime minister, Sharif said the country was on the way to posting the largest budget deficit in its history as well as historical trade and current account deficits. He also said the outgoing government of Khan had mismanaged the economy, and his new government was faced with a huge challenge to bring it back on track.

• Pakistan PM-elect Sharif says country heading for historical budget, trade deficits