ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday urged civil servants to exhibit high moral standards in their work for their own as well as the country’s betterment.

Speaking at the passing-out ceremony of the 44th Special Training Prog­ramme of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Mr Khan said that with a good civil service, the country was moving on the path of becoming a great nation until the 1960s, but then gradually “we moved towards other ways”.

“When decline comes in morality it also brings decline in economy,” he remarked.

Mr Khan said that contrary to corruption and corrupt practices in the poor countries, where NROs (National Re­con­ciliation Ordinan­ces) were given and deals were made with thieves, rich countries fulfil the requirements of justice through moral authority and power.

He quoted the sayings of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) that the nations that did not dispense justice were soon destroyed.

The prime minister said Hazrat Ali (RA) had stated that the nations having a system of infidelity could survive but not those with a system of tyranny and injustice.

He was of the opinion that it was due to corruption and embezzlement [of public money] that countries like Bangladesh were now ahead of Pakistan.

“You being the elite of bureaucracy have to perform your duties with dedication,” he said.

When a prime minister and his ministers indulge in corruption, the menace goes down to every level, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2021