Daily Times

BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said ‘corrupt practices of the country’s political leaders’ were the biggest hurdle in way of development and that timely measures were needed to tackle the menace.

Speaking to the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, PM Khan said he started his struggle against corruption and malpractice in 1996 which continues to date. “We at PTI started our struggle against corruption in 1996 but our party was not given much credit. However, things have changed now. Pakistan’s biggest hurdles in way of development are corruption and money laundering,” Khan said.

He added that Pakistan was an example and an economic model for countries like Korea and Malaysia in 1960s but due to corruption and money laundering, the country now lags far behind the aforementioned nations. “Development is not possible without elimination of corruption,” the premier said. He added that an end to corruption was the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s priority.

Khan also lauded China for pulling itself out of corruption and poverty, calling their anti-corruption policies exemplary. He said Pakistan must take notes and seek Chinese experience in implementing similar policies for end of poverty and corruption in the country. “We will take full advantage of China’s experience and expertise to tackle Pakistan’s problems,” Khan said.

The premier said China has always been there to help Pakistan and vice versa and that the relations between the two countries will only get better with the passage of time. “Right now, Pakistan is in need of foreign funding and for that purpose, I have started talks with China’s future leadership. Both Pakistan and China will always help each other in tough times,” he added.

The PTI chief also put emphasis on the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).