Islamabad (Web Desk): President Dr Arif Avi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in their separated messages on International Anti-Corruption Day on Friday, vowed to eliminate corruption in all its forms from the country.
In his message, President Dr Arif Alvi said Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to eliminate corruption in all its forms and manifestations and promote transparency and accountability in our governance system.
The president said that fighting corruption is a serious concern for developing countries, especially Pakistan, as it weakens security and hinders economic growth.
He said the International Anti-Corruption Day provides everyone with an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made over the past years in the fight against corruption, but also to think about the work that remains to be done in the years ahead.
President Alvi expressed hope that Pakistan can emerge as a strong and prosperous nation if we make sincere efforts to root out this menace from our society.
In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored the need to strengthen institutions for eradicating corruption from the country by following the golden principles of Islam and ensuring supremacy of law.
"This Day marks renewal of our pledge to root out this scourge as it is a major obstacle in the way of development and prosperity of any country and leads to its economic and administrative destruction," the premier said.
He emphasised the need for doing away with the practice of using corruption as a tool for political victimization.
PM Shehbaz regretted that the previous government jailed political opponents on the basis of frivolous corruption allegations.
Terming corruption as a major national issue, the prime minister said instead of merely using it for political sloganeering and point scoring, serious efforts should be made for its eradication.
PM Shehbaz urged all political circles to prepare a clear roadmap to get rid of corruption.
International Anti-Corruption Day is being observed on Friday across the world including Pakistan.
The day is observed on December 9 globally to raise awareness on the importance of a corruption-free society.
The theme for this year is “Uniting the world against corruption”.