Corrupt systems are the biggest hindrance in implementation of institutional reforms: PM Imran Khan.

DAVOS -- Prime Minister Imran Khan has stated that corrupt systems are the biggest hindrance in the implementation of institutional reforms. 'It is like everyone wants to go to heaven but not one want to die or it is like everyone wants to remove the tumor, but does not want the pain of surgery,' he said, adding that the moment the nation realises the importance of good governance, the country will make progress. He said that reforming an economy which is "sick" is a painful process. He said that the current account deficit has been decreased by 75 percent in one year and foreign investment has increased by 200 percent in one year in Pakistan.

Addressing the prominent business personalities at Pakistan Breakfast Meet in Davos on Thursday, 'We are up against a corrupt status quo that ruled Pakistan for 30 years. They are entrenched and have links to people who benefited from a corrupt system. Our biggest challenge is facing these people spreading gloom and doom every day. Every day a scandal is blown up - all of it is orchestrated. Basically, they do not want the government to succeed because our success means they are out of power instead they are going to jail - and some of them already are.'

He said the first thing corrupt people do is destroying state institutions because that's the only way to make money. 'State institutions can be destroyed very quickly but restoring them takes time.'

'We discovered that out of the 370 people working the health ministry, only 15 had relevant educational background,' he said replying to a question. 'All government corporations are loaded with these people. If you have three persons for one job, none of them will work. Unfortunately when we bring changes, we are slapped with stay orders.'

PM Imran Khan said the second problem Pakistan faced was the accumulated debts by the previous governments. 'Out of the Rs4 trillion tax we collected in our first year of power, Rs3 trillion went to debt services. How do you fund health, education etc in that?'

The biggest challenge, he continued, is the circular debt in the energy sector, adding that currently circular debt of electricity is Rs. 1.7 trillion. 'Every year we have huge interests on this debt. We cannot put more burden on the consumers.' Imran Khan said that after going back to Pakistan he will hold discussion with all the stake-holders on the issue of circular debt.

Elaborating on tough economic policies, Imran Khan said his government was focusing on...