Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said the government was ready to talk to any party or faction to resolve differences, including people of Balochistan, Waziristan and tribal areas, but he ruled out the possibility of negotiations with “corrupt people”.

He said this during a visit to Mianwali where he announced the second phase of the development package for the city and performed ground-breaking of various development projects related to education, health and construction of highways worth more than Rs35billion.

“We will not negotiate with people who have robbed Pakistanis because a nation who makes deals with such people cannot succeed,” said the prime minister, adding every civilized society imprisons corrupt people.

The premier expressed gratitude to the people of Mianwali for supporting him during his political career, saying he owed them for making him prime minister. Khan vowed to repay their favours through large-scale development in the city.

“When the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government will complete its five-year tenure, Mianwali will be relatively more prosperous [as compared to during tenures of previous governments],” he said, adding that development projects would be launched in all under-developed areas of the country during his party’s tenure.

Referring to Namal university, the prime minister said the institutions will cater to local people with the international standards of education. He also laid emphasis on the education projects in the city, especially for the women.

In his address, the prime minister claimed Pakistan was still the cheapest country in the world despite a high level of inflation world-wide. However, he added the prices are expected to go down after three to four months across the world.

He also referenced various packages introduced by the government for the welfare of people, including Ehsaas, Kamyab Pakistan, health cards and scholarship schemes.

Rule of law and welfare state are the two ideologies through which the government will raise the lower sections of the country, he added.

The prime minister inaugurated City Park at Old Cattle Mandi, the dualization of the first phase of Sargodha-Mianwali Road and a Miyawaki Forest at Namal Lake.

He also launched development work on the upgradation of Kalabagh-Shakardara Road and DHQ Hospital Mianwali, the construction of the Balkasar-Mianwali Road and a Wooded Land at Namal Lake.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also attended the ceremony with the prime minister.

The prime minister is also expected to visit Namal University where he will address the students.