PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday emphasised the need for self-accountability as a prerequisite for eradicating corruption from society. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organised by the information and public relations department and anti-corruption establishment at Nishtar Hall here, Mr Gandapur said corruption could be eliminated only when the society collectively began to view it as a serious moral evil. He said corruption was a social menace. “The day we start seeing corruption as a grave issue, its eradication will begin,” he said, stressing the need for the implementation of anti-corruption measures beyond mere rhetoric, according to an official statement. Mr Gandapur underlined the importance of seeking blessings and peace in life over the pursuit of wealth, noting that wealth is meaningless without inner peace and divine blessings. He called for decisions in all aspects of life to align with Islamic teachings, asserting that following these principles is essential for success in life. The chief minister lamented a lack of moral standards required to overcome corruption and said that despite having resources and wealth, many people were without peace of mind and contentment. He complained the institutions responsible for eliminatingcorruption had failed to deliver the goods and, in some cases, they became promoters of corruption. Mr Gandapur said unfortunately, anti-corruption bodies at the national level were often “misused” for political victimisation, making the fight against corruption even more challenging. “It is unfortunate that as a society, we remain mentally enslaved and lack intellectual independence. If we aspire for progress, we must free ourselves from this mindset,” he said. The chief minister urged people to prioritise the upbringing and education of their children over amassing wealth through illicit means. He insisted that children raised on ill-gotten wealth often failed to respect their parents or uphold family honour. Cabinet members Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif and retired Brigadier Musaddiq Abbasi, and chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry also addressed the event and highlighted the negative impact of corruption on society, measures for its prevention, and related issues. The event was attended by ministers Arshad Ayub Khan, Meena Khan Afridi and Syed Qasim Ali Shah, the provincial police chief, administrative secretaries, government officials, and students. Later, the chief minister led an awareness walk against corruption.