"Corrupt mafia" biggest hindrance in way of change, development of country: PM

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that "corrupt mafia" is the biggest hindrance in way of bringing about a change and development of the country. The premier added that he will not give NRO to them at any cost.

Addressing the participants during Insaf Doctors Forum at Aiwan-e-Iqbal in Lahore on Wednesday, he said: "They [mafia] can do whatever they want but i will not get blackmailed by them."

Calling the PDM leaders a group of pickpocketer, Imran stated: "They gather on the container and say the country has been destroyed." He said the opposition is afraid as they know they will all go to jail.

"They are seeing for the first time ever that they will be held accountable for their treacherous attitude towards the country and for looting it," he said. "They know that here is a prime minister who will not be blackmailed and will hold them accountable."

Coronavirus pandemic not over yet

Regarding coronavirus, the prime minister said that Pakistan is still not recovered from coronavirus pandemic and it is not over yet. "Pakistan is still fighting a big war against COVID-19," he said.

He warned about the impending second wave of the coronavirus, saying that the government has received reports of COVID-19 cases surging in Pakistan on a daily basis.

The premier said that it is important for Pakistanis to observe health guidelines as the next two months are crucial, as the winter season approaches.

He warned that cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala and a few others — where the level of pollution remains high — are especially at risk from a surge in coronavirus cases as the winter season approaches.

Govt hospitals in a shambles

The prime minister lamented at the state of government hospitals in the country, saying that their standards had deteriorated over the years. "My entire family, including myself, were born in Mayo Hospital," he said. "Government hospitals used to perform well back then. There were proper systems [in place]," he added.

He said that the condition of government hospitals deteriorated when government institutions were nationalised. "Ever since God created this world, whenever the concept of reward and punishments are abolished, that system goes down," he said.

He hit out at previous governments for getting elected but doing nothing for the masses. "Those who are super rich, they started going abroad for checkups even over a simple cough," he said. "How are our hospitals to improve then?"

Naya Pakistan is not a switch

The prime minister said that he is tired of people asking him where is Naya Pakistan. "I am tired of explaining to these people that Naya Pakistan is not a switch," he said. "[They expect] a government to come into power, press a switch and everything solves by itself. This only happens in fairy tales. In real life, a reform process comes about as a result of a struggle," he added.