OPP boss urges responsible politics and reconciliation amid affordability crisis
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses a gathering at Gadhi Khuda Bakhsh on Saturday on the 18th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Photo: X
LARKANA:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday highlighted widespread public discontent with the country’s economic conditions, saying that while the government claimed progress, ordinary citizens were struggling to meet daily expenses, including education and healthcare.
After inaugurating the Child and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Larkana Children’s Hospital under the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology, he stressed the need for political parties to adopt responsible politics and prioritize reconciliation.
Bilawal criticized the government for claiming development while ordinary citizens continued to face hardships. He acknowledged the country’s economic crisis and noted that wage earners were struggling to make ends meet.
“The government makes claims of development but the common man cannot afford education and health expenses,” he said. “The OPP aims to ease the economic burden on citizens through policies aligned with the manifesto of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.”
On privatization, Bilawal said the PPP was in favor of a public-private partnership model. “We have our own perspective which is the public-private partnership,” the OPP chairman told the mediapersons.
“Sindh Agro Coal Mining Company and Child Life Foundation are projects of the Sindh government under this model,” he pointed out. He noted that The Economist magazine ranked Sindh’s public-private partnership model sixth globally.
The PPP chairman also criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for attacking state institutions after the arrest of its leader. “If PTI attacked institutions and nothing happened, imagine what would have happened if PPP had done something like that,” he said.
He urged the PTI to abandon extremist politics and operate within democratic boundaries, quoting a saying, “If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.” He warned that actions against national institutions in response to lawsuits would have legal consequences.
Bilawal reiterated that reconciliation remained his party’s guiding philosophy and credited President Asif Ali Zardari for promoting dialogue and tolerance in politics. Noting the tense situation on Pakistan’s borders with India and Afghanistan, along with rising terrorism, he stressed that extremist political behavior would provoke a stern government response.
Calling for elections, Bilawal stressed that polls would be held on time and that political parties, including the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, should cooperate on reforms to ensure transparency and strengthen public confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He warned against holding elections under conditions that could promote political instability.
Highlighting Sindh’s health achievements, Bilawal said the province now offers unparalleled medical services, including highly sensitive intensive care units at Larkana, and 100% free treatment for children as per international standards. He added that infant mortality in Sindh has come down significantly since the 18th amendment and health centers have been established across Karachi, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Larkana and Jamshoro.
He thanked Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif for sending a delegation to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Health Minister Sindh Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, MPA Nida Khuhro, MNA Khursheed Ahmed Junejo and other party leaders were present on the occasion.
