Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that corruption is the biggest hurdle in Pakistan’s development and the country would not progress until the thieves are not brought to justice.
Addressing a ceremony after the groundbreaking ceremony of a hospital at NAMAL Institute in Mianwali on Friday, he made it clear that the process of accountability will continue without any discrimination.
Imran Khan said that no influence or pressure will be tolerated from any side in this regard, adding that some people incarcerated on corruption charges tried to influence him through recommendations from outside the country.
Regarding corruption cases against opposition leaders, the prime minister said most of these were instituted during the tenures of the previous government.
Blaming corruption for various economic challenges Pakistan is facing, he said the country cannot move forward unless this menace is curtailed, adding that the country’s debt reached to Rs30,000 billion from Rs6,000 billion in a decade due to corruption and bad governance.
Khan went on to say that inflation, devaluation of rupee and general economic malaise have been caused by the plundering and looting of national wealth during the last ten years.
Responding to allegations of political victimization, the premier said that various cases were made against him in the previous government but he stood bravely against these fabricated charges and was eventually cleared by the courts. He said the people who are making furor today are unable to provide any money trail to their wealth.
He expressed optimism that difficult economic period will be over and country will become prosperous in future. He said government will increase investment on human development once the economic situation improves.
Imran Khan urged the big philanthropists to adopt government hospitals in improving their services, adding that even the infrastructure projects completed by previous government are running on loss. He said a loss of twelve billion rupees is being incurred on annual basis on three metro bus projects in Punjab.
