Only 13 months have passed and they keep asking about 'Naya Pakistan': PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday lamented Pakistani people's lack of patience, saying "only 13 months have passed [since coming to power] and people keep asking 'where is Naya Pakistan?'".

Speaking at the inauguration of the first "Ehsaas Saylani Langar" here at Peshawar Mor in the federal capital's Sector G-9, PM Imran stressed that change always came slowly.

The prime minister said the current system's biggest flaw was that it allowed the rich to become richer and the poor to get poorer. He added that he was determined to collect tax from the country's affluent and spend that money on the destitute folks' welfare to bring improvement in their lives.

The Langar was set up as a joint collaboration between the government's Ehsaas Programme and Saylani Welfare International Trust, which would provide free-of-cost meals thrice-a-day to the needy.

PM Imran said some people were becoming impatient with the government and questioning the existence of the 'Naya Pakistan' after just a year and a half.

"They must know that wrong practices of 70 years take time to phase out. But I assure you, this country will overcome tough times and witness a new dawn of progress and prosperity," he said.

PM Imran said steps were afoot — with the government's vision of making Pakistan a welfare state — to provide poor basic necessities of life, including food and shelter.

"Even if a country faces financial constraints but pursues the path of Allah Almighty to care for its deserving people, it will ultimately achieve success," he said.

The premier mentioned that the government had launched several welfare schemes for improvement of healthcare, police system, and women-centric issues, with a basic objective to facilitate common people.

The PM lauded Ehsaas Programme Chairperson Dr Sania Nishtar for effectively carrying out the country's largest socio-economic welfare project with multiple dimensions.

During meal time at the Langarhhana, PM Imran stood in a queue behind two labourers and put food in his plate on his turn. He shared lunch with the poor people who were already gathered there for a free meal at the venue.

Earlier, Dr Nishtar said the Langar project was in line with the vision of PM Imran, who wished for no one in his country to sleep on an empty stomach and under open sky.

The Ehsaas Programme chair noted that by next year, some 112 Langars would be opened in collaboration with Saylani Welfare International Trust, where the needy would be provided quality meals in a dignified manner.

In this regard, Saylani Welfare Trust founder Bashir Farooqi said Pakistan was blessed to have Imran Khan as the prime minister for he had a firm intention to make the country a welfare state that took care of poor, homeless, and abandoned people.

Farooqi mentioned that the Langar near Peshawar Mor was set up in only 10 days and that Saylani Welfare Trust was confident of achieving their target of 112 similar set-ups in the shortest period of time, with a greater objective of establishing a total of 1,200 later.

Besides providing free meals, the Langar also offers a 120-bed accommodation for the needy and travelers.