Bilawal urges PM to mend ties with allies, avoid opposition clash
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to restore the confidence of coalition partners instead of opening a new front against the opposition, saying his party will support the government in addressing the economic crisis.
“Until all Pakistanis stand united, we will not be able to protect the people from this difficult situation,” Bilawal said while addressing a ceremony in Karachi on Tuesday to mark the completion of one million homes for flood victims under the Sindh Peoples Housing Scheme.
Bilawal described the initiative as one of the largest housing projects in the world, saying the Sindh government had completed the construction of one million homes, with the total expected to reach two million by the time the project is completed.
The PPP chairman said the project had been carried out with support from the federal government and international partners.
He added that one million families had been granted land ownership under the initiative, describing it as the largest land transfer programme since 1970.
Bilawal said the PPP had also provided ownership rights to farmers, adding that home ownership would offer economic security to poor families.
He said the housing initiative fulfilled the party’s promise of providing “roti, kapra aur makan” (food, clothing and shelter).
Political parties must help people overcome economic crisis
Bilawal said people across the world were facing an economic crisis, with citizens looking towards governments for relief.
He said every initiative undertaken by the Sindh government was aimed at serving the public and reducing the economic burden on people.
“People are not looking at how governments will make them fight among themselves. They are looking at how governments will support them during the economic crisis,” he said.
The PPP chairman said political parties were responsible for helping people overcome economic hardships rather than spreading hatred.
He criticised politicians who believed that making the business community wealthier would lead to national development, saying governments and political parties must prioritise the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Bilawal thanked PM Shehbaz for supporting the housing project, saying the federal government had extended assistance to the Sindh government.
He contrasted the support with the response of the previous government, saying no financial assistance had been provided when floods struck Pakistan during its tenure.
Bilawal said Pakistan would have to reset its political landscape to overcome the challenges facing the country.
“I urge Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to restore the confidence of his coalition partners and establish an atmosphere of trust instead of starting new confrontations with the opposition,” he said.
He reiterated that the PPP would support the government in tackling the economic crisis.
Bilawal challenges opponents to find corruption in housing project
Bilawal challenged political opponents to identify corruption in the housing scheme, saying he was confident that no corruption had taken place in the project.
He urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to request an audit of the initiative by international organisations monitoring corruption.
The PPP chairman said the Sindh government was frequently accused of corruption, while critics also pointed to the province’s education crisis.
“People should at least ask us why these problems exist,” he said.
Bilawal urged other provinces to learn from Sindh’s initiatives for public welfare, saying the provincial government’s projects were designed to help people overcome economic difficulties.