ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday remarked that the heads of state institutions should be appointed on the basis of “merit” and not “seniority”.

“If a senior is not eligible to become a chief executive, the second-best should be made the head of the institution,” the prime minister said while addressing the groundbreaking of a 200-bed accident and emergency centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (Pims) and another 300-bed Jinnah Hospital in Sector G-11/3.

While urging the Pims Board of Directors to ensure meritocracy on the lines of the private sector, he said people should be inducted on merit — a point he has been stressing throughout his political career. “Under the prevailing government system, one reaches the top position on the basis of seniority,” he said, adding the time had come for institutions to adopt the system of the private sector.

The government system did not follow merit, he claimed, resulting in “unbridled corruption” in the country.

Recounting his government’s achievements, Prime Minister Khan claimed they had made remarkable improvements in public sector development, particularly health, education and economy. “No government in the past 70 years has ever taken steps for the welfare of the common man the way the PTI government has,” he added.

He then mentioned economic growth, “rising” national income, a uniform education system, the establishment of Rehmatul lil Alameen Authority and financial stability of the country.

Later, Prime Minister Khan met Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and many other legislators to ensure their support against the opposition’s no-confidence motion.

According to the PM Office, the prime minister said development of the Reko Diq gold and copper mine would play an important role in the social and economic uplift of Balochistan, and Pakistan in general.

The Senate chairman thanked the PM for striking a successful agreement with Barrick Gold Company for the development of gold and copper reserves in Reko Diq, and the waiver of a penalty worth $11 billion. Under the project, the company would invest $10bn in Balochistan, creating 8,000 jobs in the Reko Diq area.