ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed reforms to wipe outextravagant lifestyle in Pakistan.

Imran lamented Pakistan’s economic woes, saying the debt had soared to astaggering Rs28,000 billion.

“We have a scenario where more than half of the country cannot affordtwo-time meal. The country’s debt has reached an alarming level. We areheading towards destruction,” he added.

The prime minister referred to a United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) report and said Pakistan was included in top five countries with aworsening human development index.

“Our children are malnourished; stunted growth does not even allow theirbrains to develop properly. This is the case of 45 per cent of the childrenof Pakistan,” he added.

Imran also called on the public to pay taxes, vowing to protect public’smoney. “Only eight lac people pay tax out of a population of more than 200million. We have a great system of Zakat to follow that can be linked toprogressive taxation where people pay according to their ability to pay.

“I assure you…. pay taxes and we will protect your money. We will ensurethat the money collected through taxes is used for the welfare of ourcitizens.”

The prime minister also announced to repurpose the Prime Minister’s House,saying he wanted to construct a university in order to facilitate researchwork.