Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari speaks at the inauguration of the newly constructed Outpatient Department (OPD) block at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD). Photo: Express
HYDERABAD:
While acknowledging that every Pakistani bears the burden of the ongoing war in the Gulf, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party will support the PML-N-led federal government if it decides to introduce a mini-budget amid a looming global economic crisis.
Addressing a ceremony held in Larkana on the death anniversary of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Saturday, Bilawal termed the war against Iran as illegal and strongly condemned the loss of life, including the martyrdom of Iranian leaders and the killing of innocent schoolgirls.
He said that certain forces thrive on hatred and division and actively pursue such agendas, warning that the Iran war has already spread its effects beyond the region and risks spreading further around the world.
The PPP chief said that war is not a solution to any problem and expressed hope that the hostilities would soon end and peace would be restored.
“The burden of the war between Iran, the US and Israel is borne by every Pakistani,” he noted, adding that those who attack Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and other countries cannot cast an evil eye on Pakistan.
Highlighting the domestic situation, Bilawal said the country is facing historic inflation and an economic crisis, but stressed that provincial governments, like the federation, are contributing by cutting funds to provide public relief.
Bilawal said that in view of rising fuel prices, the PPP Sindh government has decided to financially support both public and private transport services so that fares are not increased.
He added that in coordination with the Federal Government, measures are also being taken to provide relief to transporters affected by the increase in diesel prices.
The OPP boss said all provinces would contribute from their own resources to a federal fund aimed at supporting transporters and preventing price increases. However, he acknowledged that given the scale of the crisis, such measures may not be sufficient as the public is already facing serious hardship.
Bilawal emphasized that both federal and provincial governments would take steps according to their available resources to provide maximum relief to the poor.
He said the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is a transparent mechanism that already provides financial assistance across all four provinces and should be utilized more effectively.
He called on the federal government to expand the program and increase its budget to support the public. “If the federal government brings a mini-budget for this purpose, we will support it,” he said, signaling the PPP’s readiness to support difficult economic decisions in the national interest.
He urged small farmers and motorcycle owners to register themselves, noting that it is unclear how long the current situation will last. He warned that if the crisis continues, the federation and the provinces may jointly develop a broader relief plan for the public.
“The Sindh government has developed a plan to financially help small farmers through a Kissan card, which will be launched soon. The provincial government aims to extend the relief to motorcycle owners as well. Citizens must ensure that their vehicles are registered in their own name.
“Relief will be given only to the person in whose name the motorcycle is registered,” he said, adding that the transfer fee for ownership of vehicles has been waived off to facilitate this process.
The PPP chief also thanked Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI for their cooperation in difficult times, saying that national consensus in such circumstances is a positive development and politics should be avoided in favor of national unity.
He said leaders across provinces, including in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh, are taking steps to provide relief, stressing that collective efforts are needed to overcome the current challenges.
Bilawal said unity is the country’s greatest strength. “If there is unity in Pakistan, no power in the world can overpower or break us. Our nation will face this trial with courage and God willing, victory will be for the people and peace,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, for equipping the country with the atomic bomb. “The Zionist powers which attack Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, if they do not do the same to Pakistan, it is because of the nuclear bomb given to Bhutto.”
He reiterated that his grandfather knew full well that he would have to pay the price of giving a nuclear bomb to his country with his life, but he still took the plunge and secured nuclear power.
