Imran Khan calls two years in office as 'biggest challenge' of his life

Islamabad - Overcame the challenges of crashed economy, foreign debts and power crisis, says Pakistan PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said the biggest achievement of his government was putting Pakistan on path of becoming a welfare state.
"If someone asks me what I did for the country during my tenure, I will say that I have set its direction right to realise the dream of its forefathers," the prime minister said in the interview with Dunya News television channel.
PM Khan said Pakistan came into being to implement the concept of an Islamic welfare state, with the aim of uplifting the downtrodden and weaker segments of society.
Talking about difficulties faced by him, PM Khan said his tenure as prime minister was the 'biggest struggle of his life filled with challenges', including a crashed economy, foreign debts and power crisis.
"From sports to politics, my entire life is all about struggle. Even in government, I confronted the challenges with a spirit to never give up," he added.
About the coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister said the strategy of a smart lockdown had helped overcome the challenge.
"When the vision is to uplift the poor then there are special blessings from Almighty Allah," he said, adding that many countries, including neighbouring India, had opted for a complete lockdown that increased poverty.
He mentioned his Special Assistant on Social Welfare Dr Sania Nishtar, who launched the Ehsaas programme under which financial assistance was given to the poor and deserving regardless of their political affiliations.
Even the concept behind opening of the construction sector during the pandemic was to provide a window of earning to labourers and daily wagers, he added.
PM Khan said his dream of a 'New Pakistan' would not be complete unless the mafias and cartels were eliminated. "It is the government's responsibility to protect the interests of public and it is my mission to fight the mafias," he said when asked to comment on unchecked prices of sugar in the country.
He regretted that the elite culture prevailed in the country, where the rich avoided taxes and the businessmen got rebates in the name of exports.
When asked about the situation of Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways, he said mismanagement and over-recruitment resulted in the debacle of these institutions.
He said the inquiry into fake pilot licences was under way for seven months before it was made public.
However, he admitted that "presentation of the matter could have been better to avoid a fallout and international embarrassment".
 

• Pakistan