Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that although he had "nothing to gain from politics", he had persevered in his political struggle for 23 years to fulfil his responsibility towards the Pakistani people.

He was addressing a ceremony held to celebrate the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) 23rd Foundation Day — originally marked last week — at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

A large number of party supporters, ministers, special assistants to the prime minister and party leaders attended the event.

"It's been 23 years since PTI was founded and we need to understand what this struggle was about. Struggle is never a straight journey, there are highs and lows. People get disheartened and leave you, [and] some come back.

"I had nothing to gain from politics. I had everything a person can have — wealth, fame, respect. I could have spent my life just by commenting on cricket," he told the audience.

But he said "a man of faith knows he has to answer to the God. The more you receive [from God], the more responsibility you have [towards society]."

"This country was progressing so quickly when I was growing up. Our leaders were respected by the world. But then this respect began to fade because those in power, instead of thinking about the country, started caring about their own interest.

"When a man steals, he harms one man. When a leader steals, he harms the entire country," the prime minister stressed.

Citing the success stories of Malaysia and Singapore, he emphasised the importance of implementing the principles of the state of Madina in Pakistan.

"The governance structure of Madina is the system of a modern state. That became the foundation due to which Muslims ruled for the next 1,000 years.

"Pakistan was the only country that was built in the name of Islam and the purpose was to establish a welfare state. But we strayed from that vision."

Recounting his political struggle, Imran said the PTI was initially written off after some of its members "got disheartened and left the party".

"People made fun of us, called PTI a 'tonga party'," he recalled. "Your party (PTI) is the only party that has struggled. It was not supported by a general, or inherited.

"When people work for themselves, they think 'it's been 15 years and I have gotten nothing'. When you work for society, it doesn't matter how long you have to struggle.

"Struggle trains you. You don't get scared of resistance because resistance makes you stronger."

'Most successful government'

Addressing the opposition's criticism of the government's economic management, he said the PTI government inherited a debt of Rs30,000 billion when it came into power.

"If we are able to reduce the debt to Rs20,000 billion by the end of our tenure, we will be the most successful government in history," he said.

Nearly a week after he was slammed for referring to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as 'sahiba' (madam), Prime Minister Imran, this time referring to the PPP chairperson as 'sahib', acknowledged that "mistakes are sometimes made".

"It is true that inflation has increased and rupee has gone down against the dollar and therefore prices have increased. Even though it was because of them [the opposition] that the rupee lost its value, they blame us for it," the premier said.

He said the nation would have to face a difficult period for some time "until our reforms take shape".

The prime minister said the opposition parties had declared on the first day of the government that it is "a failure" and lacks experience.

"That is because they know we are finding out about the corruption done by them," he said. "They were all in it together and they were satisfied that they will never be caught. Unfortunately for them, the people of Pakistan voted for PTI.

"They create a ruckus in the assembly and talk about saving democracy. This is because they want an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance-like dead]," he said, recalling that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had "granted an NRO in Hudaibiya case and to [former president Asif Ali] Zardari and that has led to the increase in nation's debt".

"They will not get an NRO now," Imran declared.

Talking about his government's initiatives for the welfare of the people, the prime minister recounted the launch of the poverty alleviation programme Ehsas. "We have asked the Chinese for help [and] they are assisting us in this because they have lifted millions of people out of poverty.

"A homeless person who sleeps on a footpath, is inhaling diesel fumes and gathering dust, what does Pakistan mean for him? Why would he stand up for his country if it cannot provide shelter and food?" Imran said.

He said the government's flagship affordable housing programme will enable people who don't have enough cash to buy a house of their own.

While discussing efforts to promote agriculture in rural areas, he said that China is helping the government with technology to enhance production.

"A Pak-China university will be built in Prime Minister House and technology will be utilised there," he announced.

Prime Minister Imran revealed that the offshore drilling being done by an ExxonMobil-led consortium "is almost over and in two weeks time we will know how much reserves of gas there are" in Pakistani waters.

"If they are as much as they think, Pakistan's gas troubles will be over for the next 50 years."

'Rotten political system'

The PTI was formed by cricketer-turned-politician Imran in Lahore on April 25, 1996.

The premier had directed the PTI chief organiser to prepare a plan for countrywide celebrations after the party decided to commemorate its 23rd Foundation Day — the first after coming to power — with “full fervour and passion”.

A video compilation recapping the prime minister's political career was shown at the start of today's ceremony. It was followed by a performance by Punjabi folk legend Attaullah Esakhelvi, who has lent his vocals to a PTI anthem.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in his address at the event congratulated the prime minister and the party's founding members and workers who he said "took Imran Khan's message to every village and remote area".

Taking a jibe at the PTI's political rivals, he said: "Opposition parties ask 'is this the naya Pakistan?' I ask them that you ruined Pakistan for 40 years and you expect Imran Khan to fix it in eight months?"

Qureshi said the PTI voter is "very intelligent". "He knows the situation you inherited when you came to power. He knows about the ruined economy you inherited," he added while addressing the premier.

He asked PTI workers to prepare themselves for local bodies elections, recalling that the Punjab Assembly had recently passed a local bodies bill.

PTI’s chief organiser Saifullah Khan Nyazee in his remarks recalled Prime Minister Imran's political struggle, commending him for standing up against the "rotten political system".