Pakistan PM’s vision for the future based on KSA’s past

The country needs a welfare system to lift its people up, Imran Khan says

Pakistan needs a welfare system to help those most in need, the country’s prime minister, Imran Khan, said on Sunday.

Speaking at the opening day of the World Government Summit in Dubai, Khan said his country was in need of reform. “We must have a welfare state,” he said. “Policies of the state must lift people from the bottom and, most importantly, we must start a reform program. It is essential if we are to get out of our current problems.”

Khan’s model for his future vision of Pakistan is based on Madinah in Saudi Arabia, which, he claimed, had “paved the way for the next 700 years” as one of the greatest civilizations in history.

“It was founded on incredible principles of justice and humanity,” he noted. “It was the first time a welfare state was made, and it took responsibility for the weak. It was the first time pensions were created and it was a humane state.

“All the top scientists were Muslims for the next 700 years thanks to the foundations laid by Madinah. Then, (there was) the way minorities were treated, and how other religions were protected.”

The founding principles of Madinah were what led to the growth of Muslim civilizations across the world, which was why Pakistan, in his opinion, should look to it for inspiration.

Khan became a politician in 1996 following a successful career in cricket, where he said he learned “you only lose when you give up.” He became prime minister in 2018.

“Reforms are painful, but Pakistan now has a chance, and we feel this is the time Pakistan will take off,” he said.

But he added it was also vital to allow businesses room to breathe and make money. “We worked on the ease of doing business in Pakistan and we changed our tax laws, as part of a series of reforms.”

“Already, we see signs of the country improving but, most importantly, Pakistan has the best tourism potential and we are currently opening sites for religious tourism as well.

“We have also opened our visa regime and we are opening up the country. We want an equitable growth,” he said.