Daily Times

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday said that Pakistan’s quest for better relations with India should not be construed as weakness because the objective behind this pursuit was to pull the people of the subcontinent out of poverty by starting trade activity.

“They have some misunderstanding. When we want friendship, it means we desire to end poverty in the subcontinent. Someone should not misunderstand it. This should not be construed as weakness,” the prime minister remarked while addressing government servants during his daylong visit to the provincial capital. He said the people Pakistan never succumbed to any pressure from any power. “If they hurl any threat, the whole nation stands united to face till the end,” he said, and added that Pakistan’s endeavour for peace was in the interest of both the countries.

He said improvement of governance in the country as well as situation in the region could help take off Pakistan’s economy owing to its ideal strategic location, with big markets like China, Iran, India and Central Asia in the surroundings. He told the audience that he had not visited Saudi Arabia and UAE to beg any money but to attract investment. However, he said the investors always complained of red-tapism in Pakistan which also discouraged the overseas Pakistanis to invest their money in the country.

Prime Minister Imran Khan promised to completely overhaul the governance systems of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Centre. “There is a dire need to fix the way the police works and to depoliticise bureaucracy. Merit needs to be brought in and laws need to be practiced in letter and spirit,” he stressed.

He urged the civil servants to value the freedom the PTI government will be providing them and not let it go waste. He assured them that their work will not be interferred with and they will face “no pressure to engage in any wrongdoing whatsoever”.

Imran Khan, however, cautioned that the authority being given to the civil servants came with added responsibility. He said he was “very much hurt” that a police officer and two bureaucrats publicised what should have been a matter that goes up their chain of command. “Which government allows such a thing to take place? The IG should have been approached or the chief secretary,” he remarked. Issuing a final warning, he made it clear that such ‘politicisation’ of the state’s inner workings will never again be tolerated.” If such a thing occurs again, [which seems to be] based on some [political] agenda, I assure you the people involved will not be left off the hook and will be dealt with very strictly,” he said. “This is simply an abuse of power granted by the government [for you] to do good,” he said.

The prime minister nationwide complaint cells would also be introduced, including one in the PM House where he will be regularly monitoring performance so that the government can respond in a timely manner to the people’s needs and bring an improvement in their lives. “I request all police officials to take ownership and personally monitor their police stations so that the common man is not slighted against and justice is served,” he said.

Later addressing a meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed for finalization of the local government system within next 48 hours. He observed that besides devolution of power at the grass-roots level, effective public accountability of the elected representatives would be ensured. He observed that the LG system would remove the status quo.

Chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, the prime minister directed the provincial ministers to work without any weekend holiday and asked the provincial government to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe and bring out the facts regarding all of the fire incidents that took place at various buildings in the past. He said the ministers should apprise the people of the situation of their respective departments and tell them as how the past rulers had been living luxurious lives using the public money. He said the ministers should explore out-of-box solutions for the problems and carry out the audit of all mega projects besides publicizing the performance of previous government during last 10 years.

The prime minister also directed to establish a complaint cell at the Chief Minister Office to address the complaints of the people as well as their representatives.

Chairing a meeting of directors of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Department, the prime minister directed the officers to take indiscriminate action against corruption and expose the corrupt elements. He viewed that corruption was one of the major reasons behind the current economic condition of the country. The country had been dragged to the debt-trap by executing some of the projects in the past which had not been aimed at public welfare but at getting the kickbacks, he added.

Published in Daily Times, September 24^th 2018.