It's disappointing that Pakistan has not reached the potential it was meant to, said Prime Minister Imran Khan in his speech at the opening of the Ship Lift and Transfer System at Karachi Shipyard on Tuesday.

"Since I have grown along with Pakistan, the country has not able to progress and reach its potential as we were supposed to," he said on his day-long visit to Karachi.

Pakistanis have lost their way because they could not stand on their own feet.

"Whenever someone starts to depend on crutches, his physique deteriorates," he said, adding that Pakistan became reliant on aid instead of recognizing its potential.

But he was hopeful that this was changing.

He cited the Ship Lift and Transfer system as one example of that change.

"Now we will be able to [service] 12 ships and ship lift 7,400 tonnes. This is progress," he said.

He said Pakistan needed to end its reliance on import and get foreign investment, and also put an end to money laundering. He believed that dollars should not leave the country and should instead come into the country.

He praised his government's initiatives to improve the economy and said he felt it was on the right track to progress.

Karachi Visit

The prime minister is expected to have several meetings at Governor House before he departs for Islamabad Tuesday evening. He is expected is visit to Hub Chowki as well.

He will likely receive an update on the various projects undertaken under the Rs1.1trillion Karachi Transformation Plan which was initiated by his government last summer.