2020 to be year of economic development for Pakistan: PM.

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said that with 2019 being the year of difficulties and economic stabilization, 2020 would prove as the year of economic development for Pakistan.

'During the year 2020, the focus will be on economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and the uplift of poor through Ehsaas programme,' he said while addressing the launching ceremony of Pakistan Post initiative for delivery of remittances by overseas Pakistanis through 500 designated post offices in various cities.

The prime minister said that the vision for Naya Pakistan was based upon discarding the old mindset and patronizing merit system which in the past had badly hampered the functioning of all the government departments.

He said when they talked about the Naya Pakistan, they wanted to nurture a tendency of making new thoughts coupled with innovative ideas to make the lives of people easier.

Drawing at length the difference between the monarchy and democracy, the Prime Minister observed that in the past, the rulers wanted the people to serve them.

The British rulers did not come to serve the people in the sub-continent rather they looked upon the people as their servants, he said, adding but in the democratic set up, the rulers had to serve the people.

The prime minister lamented that even after independence, the people did not change their mindset and the officials at the public offices continued with the same strand of ruling elite.

He said that the country would attain a greater status if the public interests were secured, a system in which schools and hospitals functioned like the private ones.

'It was indeed unfortunate, but the change of mindset will ultimately take place though it would take time. During the cabinet meetings, I regularly ask the ministers about such changes,' he added.

The prime minister said that the establishment of state of Madina took time after the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) changed the mindset of the people.

Referring to the functioning of Pakistan Post, the prime minister said that due to recent introduction of merit, it had turned into a profit making entity.

'The system in a country becomes successful due to merit system. In the democracy, conditions of the people rise due to prevalence of merit. The West shifted from monarchy to democracy, but our countries went to the opposite side,' he observed and cited the progress of China due to introduction of merit system there under the leadership of...