ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to transform Pakistan intoan Islamic welfare state through all-encompassing reforms in differentspheres of life.

He made this commitment during his maiden address to the nation tonight.

In his wide-ranging speech, the Prime Minister announced a number ofmeasures aimed at austerity, getting rid of loans, domestic resourcemobilization and reforms in education, health and agriculture sectors.

The Prime Minister said his political struggle was aimed at establishing anIslamic welfare state on the pattern of State of Madina.

He pointed out that Western countries have progressed and prospered byfollowing principles pursued by Madina State but in our country people cometo power to mint money.

Referring to the prevailing conditions, he said economic difficulties werenot as bad in the history of the country as these are today. The debtburden increased from 6000 billion rupees to 28000 billion rupees duringthe last ten years. He said in the past the country had to secure twobillion dollar loan annually to pay back its debt. Today we have to taketwo billion dollars every months to pay back just interest on loansobtained in the past.

Imran Khan said apart from debt burden, Pakistan is at the lowest at thehuman development index, people are forced to drink polluted water and rateof child-mother mortality is very high.

The Prime Minister said on the one hand the country is under the tremendousburden of debt but on the other hand we have lavish living style. He saidthere are 524 employees of PM House, which is spread over 1100 Kanal,eighty vehicles including 33 bullet proof vehicles, helicopter and aircraftat the disposal of PM House. He said the former Prime Minister incurred 650million rupees on his foreign visits.

He said we will have to change our ways and establish rule of law to bringabout a change.

The Prime Minister announced establishment of a Task Force under Dr. IshratHussain to suggest measures for reducing expenditure of the Government.

Imran Khan said he would himself make a beginning by discarding use of PMHouse as his official residence. Instead, he would reside in a three roomhouse which was previously used by Military Secretary of the Prime Minister.

He said PM House would be converted into a university meant for research inscience and technology.

He said costly vehicles of the PM House would be auctioned.

The Prime Minister said austerity measures would also be implemented inGovernor Houses and Chief Minister Houses and a committee of intellectualswould be formed to propose utilization of these houses for the future.

The Prime Minister also announced setting up of a high powered task forceto bring back the looted money stashed abroad. He said annually ten billiondollars go out of the country and this will have to be stopped.

He said instead of seeking foreign loans, his Governor would mobilize localresources. He said in a population of 200 million only eight hundredthousand people are tax payers and we will have to make sacrifices to helpthe country stand on its own feet.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said reforms in FBR would be one of hisprioirities. He appealed to the people to pay taxes for the sake of thecountry and ameliorating the lot of the poor.

The Prime Minister said a Consultative Council has been established tosuggest measures for increase in exports. He said steps would be taken forattracting investment and promoting SMEs.

He also expressed his resolve to encourage overseas Pakistanis so that theyremit money through official banking channels. He said Pakistani missionsabroad will also have to play their role in this regard.

The Prime Minister said he would hold a meeting with Chairman NationalAccountability Bureau (NAB) to discuss ways and means to address the meanceof corruption effectively. He said the possibility of further empowermentof Bureau will also be explored.

He said like KPK, a whistle blower act would also be introduced in otherprovinces whereby a percentage of the removered looted money would be givento the informer.

Imran Khan said he would keep the Interior Ministry with him to keep aneffective check on money laundering. He asked people to support him in hiscampaign to hold the corrupt accountable.

The Prime Minister said he would also hold a meeting with Chief Justice ofPakistan for reformation of the system of dispensation of justice.

He said trial of cases should not go beyond one year.

He referred to police reforms in KPK during the last five years and saidformer police officer Nasir Durrani would be assigned a consultative rolein Punjab to help reform the police.

The Prime Minister also announced plans for reforms in civil service torestore its past glory. He said there would be no political interference inthe working of the civil service but the civil servants will have todeliver.

He said a right to services act would be enforced envisaging reward andpenalty for good or poor output by public dealing organizations.

The Prime Minister also pledged to improve working and performance ofpublic schools so that they impart quality education to all. He said it isalso right of students of seminaries to become doctors and engineers.

Similarly, he said, a task force is being formed to improve conditions ofgovernment hospitals. Health Insurance Cards would be introduced all overthe country allowing the holder to get medical treatment worth five hundredand fifty thousand rupees annualy.

He said a fulfledged Ministry of Water would be created to address theissue of water shortages and how to conserve water. He said we have tobuild Diamer-Bhasha dam at all costs.

He said the Government would also focus on agricultural research and itwould be endeavour to reduce the cost of input for farmers.

The Prime Minister also expressed the resolve to implement all the twentypoints of National Action Plan to eliminate the meance of terrorism.

He said conditions in Karachi will have to be improved as it is deeplylinked with the betterment of Pakistan.

He said there is need for South Punjab province and his Government wouldmove towards that end.

He also announced that every effort would be made to bring estranged Balochin the national mainstream and improve conditions in tribal areas.

The Prime Minister said we will have to take extra care of street children,widows and disadvantaged segments of the society to make Pakistan a welfarestate.

Turning to foreign policy, he said Pakistan wants best of relations withall countries including its neighbours. He said Pakistan believes in peaceas there can be no progress and development without peace and security.