Prime Minister Imran Khan launches ‘Ehsaas Saylani Langar Scheme’ in Islamabad. PHOTO COURTESY: RADIO PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday the ‘Naya Pakistan’ would be a welfare state, as he reiterated his determination to collect taxes from the rich and spend the money on poor, stressing however, the it would take time to redress people’s grievances.



Speaking at the inauguration of the first ‘Ehsaas Saylani Langar’ in the federal capital, Prime Minister Imran said that the biggest flaw of the current system was that it made rich even richer while the poor got poorer.



The prime minister said some people were getting impatient with the government and questioning about the existence of the 'Naya Pakistan' after just one-and-a-half year government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).



"They must know that wrong practices adopted during the past 70 years take time to phase out. But I assure you, this country will overcome these difficult times and witness a new dawn of progress and prosperity," Imran said.



"The Madina state takes the responsibility of the weaker segments of the society. It is a welfare state, which feels for the poor. However, it was not established in one day but in phases," said the prime minister, adding that it would take time to address people’s grievances.



Imran emphasised that the fortunate were those who did good work for the sake of Allah's blessings. “When I started the [Shaukat Khanum] Cancer Hospital, I was very happy. I met several fortunate people," he said.



"Serving the poor, destitute and weaker segments of the society is indeed a virtuous thing to do. The government's Ehsas programme is the biggest project to eliminate poverty from the country," the prime minister added.



Imran said that the government was facilitating the promotion of trade and industry in every possible way “yet we are aware of the problems of poor people and we trying that nobody sleeps hungry despite the difficult times”.



"It is our endeavour that we facilitate the business sector so that their trade flourishes and in turn more employment opportunities are created. We will collect taxes from the rich and spend on the poor," he said.



He said that for the past many years, the rich did not pay taxes but the poor did. “The rich is getting richer but do not pay taxes, while the poor getting poorer." he said. “The government's vision is to make Pakistan a welfare state,” he added.



The prime minister stressed that steps were being taken to provide poor with the basic necessities of life, including food and shelter. “If a country faces financial constraints but pursues the path of Allah Almighty… [it] will ultimately achieve success."



The prime minister noted several welfare schemes had been launched by the PTI-led government for the improvement of healthcare, police system and the redressal of women-centric issues, saying that the basic objective of these schemes was to facilitate the people.



The Langar project is a joint collaboration of the Ehsaas Programme and the Saylani Welfare International Trust to provide free meals to the needy three times a day. Imran lauded Ehsaas Programme Chairperson Dr Sania Nishtar for effectively carrying out the programme.



Earlier, Dr Sania Nishtar in her remarks said the Langar project was in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan who wanted that no person in the country slept hungry and under the open skies.



She said by next year, 112 Langars would be opened in collaboration with the Saylani Trust, where the needy would be provided quality meals in a dignified manner. Saylani Trust founder Bashir Farooqi praised Imran for his efforts to make Pakistan a welfare state.



Later the prime minister shared the lunch with the already present poor people gathered for free meal at the venue. At the Langar Khana, he stood in a queue behind two labourers and got food in his plate on his turn.