Corruption stops progress: PM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said no country can make progress without elimination of corruption.

He was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Jalalpur Canal at Pind Dadan Khan on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said corrupt elements steal public money meant for the welfare of the common people. He urged the people to stand by him to defeat corrupt mafia in the country.

Imran Khan said now the county has come out of the difficult phase due to effective measures taken by the government. He said the next year will open up an era of development, progress, prosperity, and job opportunities. He said now trade deficit is reducing, foreign remittances and investments are increasing.

The Prime Minister said he has special connection with the area from Jhelum to Mianwali and is very well aware of people’s problems. He congratulated the people of Jhelum, Khushab, and Pind Dadan Khan for having the Jalalpur Canal. He said the project will irrigate about 1,72,000 acres of land and provide drinking water to the people of this area. He said this project should have been started some 120 years before, which unfortunately, could not materialize.

Regarding grim human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir and oppressive policies of the Narendra Modi-led Indian government against Muslims and other religious minorities, Imran Khan said has been warning the world that Modi can do anything to divert world attention from the Occupied Kashmir, where eight million people have been under siege for about five months.

The Prime Minister said he has asked Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to remain alert and have a watch on Modi’s tactics. He said that the armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to deal with any misadventure from anyone.

He said Modi is committing atrocities not only against Muslims, but other religious minorities as well. He said the discriminatory law imposed by the Modi government is affecting Muslims as well as other people. He said situation has ripe when Indian people, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians will stand against Modi’s repressive acts.

Earlier, while speaking on the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that 170 kilometers long Jalalpur Canal will irrigate 1,72,000 acres of land and provide 40 cusecs clean drinking water to the people of this area. He said there will be 72 structures and 18 flood channels on this project.

The Chief Minister said that Dina-Mangla Road is near completion, while a Panagah will soon be constructed in Jehlum. He said 276 development projects are being completed in Jehlum at a cost of eight billion rupees.

Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, while welcoming the Prime Minister, said that the people of Jehlum are strong supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and their problems should be addressed on priority basis. He demanded of the prime minister to announce and enforce provincial finance commission so that every district be entitled to utilize its share of funds according to its own needs and priorities.

He said Jehlum Technology Park is going to become Silicon Valley of bio technology and the government should provide gas to the area to make this happen. He called for upgradation of GT Road’s section from Wazirabad to Rawalpindi to the level of motorway and Jehlum should be developed as future vision city.

Imran Khan and Chaudhry Fawad Hussain also paid rich tribute to the martyred soldiers, who laid down their lives on the Line of Control in Indian firing last night.