PESHAWAR: The adviser to chief minister on accountability, retired Brigadier Mohammad Musaddiq Abbasi, has said that corruption is like termites as it destroys institutions and society from within.

He was addressing as chief guest a seminar on self-accountability. The seminar was hosted by Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar on Wednesday. The event was attended by KMU Vice-chancellor Prof Ziaul Haq, faculty members, administrative officers and other staffers.

Mr Abbasi referred to the speech of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947, wherein he declared that corruption was poison for society. He said that approximately 80 to 85 per cent of corruption was driven by necessity and it was called ‘need-based corruption’. He said that 15 to 20 per cent corruption occurred due to greed and was known as ‘greed-based corruption’.

He said that nearly $10 billion was transferred abroad annually by corrupt people. “We should look up to the eagle as our role model, which avoids consuming unlawful (Haram) food and believes in a simple lifestyle. In contrast, a vulture survives on the prey of others, symbolising greed and corruption,” he added.

Mr Abbasi said that just as prevention was better than cure, precautionary measures were vital in combating corruption.

He pointed out that Pakistan ranked 29th in the world for corruption, which was a matter of serious concern and a significant challenge.

“By reforming ourselves, half of the society would automatically improve,” he said. He advocated for adopting the habit of speaking the truth, saying lying was the root cause of social evils. He equated the habit of lying to corruption and explained that ailments like high blood pressure and diabetes at the age of 40 often resulted from attempting to shortcut life through dishonesty and corruption.

The adviser to chief minister encouraged a positive mindset, which contributed to a happier life and helped in solving problems. He also stressed the importance of adopting gratitude, as being thankful made life easier and more beautiful.

He said that punctuality and hard work were keys to success. He said that no nation could develop without honesty, which was the guarantee of success. He urged everyone to read and understand the Quran, make it an integral part of their lives, and follow its teachings.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2025

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