Pakistan Peoples Party President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has defended Benazir income support program as Pakistan’s most effective social safety net and called on the federal government to use it for “immediate relief” for flood-affected farmers.
“We had requested that flood victims were supported through Benazir Income Support Program (Bisp), just as it was done during previous floods and even under Covid,” Bilawal said at a press conference at Chief Minister’s House. “If this is not done today, my question is: What is the blame for the people of South Punjab?”
He recalled that Bisp was introduced by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) under a PML-N government. “All PML-N leaders had continuously praised this program. If they have now taken a ‘U-turn’, they should be asked why,” he said, adding that most recipients were in the Punjab and the initiative covered employment, education and other important aspects. He noted that the program had been internationally recognized with several countries according to its model. “Those who criticize it may not know well. Bisp covers employment, education and all aspects of social protection,” he added.
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Earlier, Punjab -Information Minister Azma Bukhari PPP accused of pushing Sindh and Karachi into “dark ages” despite having ruled the province for years. Without naming Bilawal, she said that Sindh’s PPP leaders, as opposed to Punjab’s chief minister and cabinet, who stayed with flood victims everywhere, the visit announced only after the rain had stopped.
Bilawal said Sindh had already announced a “Benazir Hari card” to support small farmers with DAP and urea purchases. “It’s better to spend money on our own farmers instead of sending them abroad by importing wheat. Instead of importing Pakistan, Pakistan should move toward wheat exports,” he argued.
He pointed to the Sindh government’s Benazir Hari card initiative, launched on his directives aimed at registering 1.5 million farmers throughout the province. So far, 336,000 farmers have been registered, including 42,000 in SUKKUR and GHOTKI, with RS18 billion already paid. Multipurpose ATM card enables direct transfers of subsidies to seeds, fertilizers and other inputs, with small farmers prioritized in the first phase.
Bilawal thanked the federal government for waiving electricity bills for flood victims, but called for further help. “If the federal government supports us, we can increase this help,” he said, calling for an agricultural emergency, IMF engagement on wheat outlets and tax relief for farmers. He emphasized that Punjab, especially South Punjab, had suffered the biggest crop losses.
Read more: 42,000 farmers registered for Hari Card in Sukkur, Ghotki
In rehabilitation, he said that floods have two phases – rescue and relief, followed by rehabilitation. He quoted Sindh’s housing program for flood victims as a model for other provinces and criticized the federal government for not launching an international auxiliary. “In every previous disaster, federal governments made such appeals. Why not now?” He asked.
Foreign policy and domestic policy
On international affairs, Bilawal Pakistan – Saudi defense agreement praised as “a good conformity” that had won broad appreciation. He said the Foreign Committee, led by Hina Rabbani Khar, had planned a meeting with the possibility of a briefing in the camera. “We will fulfill our parliamentary responsibilities,” he said.
At Palestine he welcomed the strong debate at the UN General Assembly. “It proves that the struggle of the Palestinian people bears fruit. The effects of Israeli attacks are seen in the form of Pakistan – Saudi agreements. I hope Arab countries and those who support Israel will also review their policies.”
Bilawal confirmed that he would meet MQM leaders and called on PML-N to share his draft constitutional changes. “If they want to make constitutional changes, they must talk to PPP. We will make decisions through consultation,” he said.
When Bilawal was asked about the recent situation in Balochistan, Bilawal noted: “There has been an observable increase in terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This will inevitably create a national security dynamic that will affect society. It is not a military solution in Balochistan.”
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He also acknowledged Karachi’s urgent problems, especially water shortages. He said the priority of the provincial government was to solve the water crisis through projects such as the Hub Channel, followed by roads and other works while emphasizing the need for coordination so that newly built infrastructure is not damaged by tools.
On federal relations, Bilawal said Sindh had received support under the current government and thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for keeping their promises. Despite challenges in Sindh’s Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), he said the federal government had contributed fairly, though “the size can still be discussed.”
He added that the country’s largest housing program and the largest land reform since Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were both possible due to federal support.
