ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday issued strict instructions to all government officials and staff working in attached departments for immediate measures to curb corruption, ensure good governance and improve working and public dealing.

The prime minister, in a message to all government servants, pointed to the menace of corruption and said it has thwarted all efforts, aimed at institution-building and improving public service delivery, an official source said.

He said governance cannot be improved unless corruption, nepotism, inefficiency and conflict of interest are tackled upfront.

The prime minister said the issue has been discussed in detail in the first cabinet meeting and on many subsequent occasions. He said clear directions must be issued to the officers and staff working under the administrative control of all ministries, contractual appointees, inductees and deputations to perform their assigned duties professionally and in the interest of the general public.

“There is no room for corrupt and non-transparent practices in the present dispensation,” prime minister said in his letter.

“Curbing this menace ranks very high on the agenda of our government,” the prime minister said and added, “the people of Pakistan have reposed their trust and confidence in our government and to betray their trust is not an option.”

He said the presently deployed staff needs to be properly screened and those having reputation of inefficiency, unfriendly attitude towards public and corruption shall be removed, or their contracts cancelled forthwith.

“The imperatives of good governance are not completed without strict observance of official code of conduct, as well as compliance of general principles of transparency, respect of rules and laws.”

Sharif said for a completely new look of the government, “we need to be very careful in the selection of our teams and those holding positions of authority, whether in the divisions or the statutory bodies, as this selection can affect the image of the government, on the one hand and its performance on the other.”

The premier directed that instructions must be strictly followed to bring improvements in the performance of respective domains. He also directed that he be regularly updated about the status of compliance.