Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched anti-corruption mobile 'app' and urged the nation to participate in the government's campaign against corruption because it is essential for survival of the country and making the nation great by achieving economic growth and prosperity.
Speaking after the launch of anti-corruption mobile app by the Punjab government on International Anti Corruption Day, he said that entire nation will have to work for the campaign to make the country a better place. He said that the corrupt people are enemy of the people and harm them in different ways.
The Prime Minister said that Punjab government has taken a big stride by recovering land of Rs 132 billion and depositing Rs 4.76 billion in the exchequer which would be utilized for people welfare projects. He suggested the chief minister Punjab to publicize his performance against corruption.
He regretted that people do not consider government's money as their own and have no understanding as how much it has been causing damage to them. The money which was to be utilized for the welfare of the people was laundered to purchase big houses abroad, he added.
The Premier said that overseas Pakistanis are reluctant to bring investment in Pakistan primary because of prevailing corrupt practices in various departments of the country.
The Prime Minister stated that there are examples of Beirut, Chile and Iraq with stark contrast of how the countries where corruption is prevalent suffer from poverty despite immense resources whereas the countries like China which dealt with it sternly have moved on economic prosperity and welfare of the people.
He said that one of the factors of Chinese success whose economy is growing at much faster speed is that the leadership is intolerant to corruption and has awarded stern punishment to 400 ministerial level people. On the other hand, the Prime Minister added that in Beirut, Chile and Iraq the people are on the streets against corruption as technological advancement have made difficult to hide corruption.
He said that the poverty has little to do with resources and more to do with corruption and corrupt practice and cited the example of Switzerland, which is rich country despite having almost no resources whereas Congo despite sitting on the natural resources is facing immense poverty.
Earlier, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that Rs 130 billion worth land was recovered, Rs 4.75 billion were deposited in the national exchequer and over 2,000 people were arrested.