NEW DELHI: Indian pop star Daler Mehndi has been invited by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to Islamabad as an Ambassador of Peace and Harmony.

Daler Mehndi's first sufi album Bismillah is to be launched in Pakistan by the President himself. It is the first time that the President of that country has invited an Indian artiste and declared him an Ambassador of Peace and Harmony.

Speaking from Islamabad, Daler Mehndi said, "I am deeply honoured and grateful for having received this opportunity to serve humanity with my music. I am looking forward to meeting the President of Pakistan and handing him the gift of Bismillah."

The singer-songwriter has pledged all proceeds from the sale of his album in Pakistan to the President's Charitable Fund.

Daler Mehndi has pioneered non-film pop music in India. Against all odds and false accusations, he has built a singular body of work and has put bhangra onto the world scene. Signed 18 months ago as songwriter to Universal Music Publishing, he is working on a bhangrarock album with international musicians.