Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday emphasized Karachi’s critical role in Pakistan’s overall development, accusing the federal government of meting out “stepchild treatment” to Sindh and withholding its resources under various pretexts.

Speaking at the inauguration of Phase I of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway – erstwhile Qayyumabad to Shah Faisal Malir Expressway, he said his family has contributed to Karachi’s development for three generations.

He praised his grandfather and the founder of the PPP, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, stating that the former prime minister revolutionized Karachi’s infrastructure and laid the foundation for major projects including Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) and Shahrah-e-Faisal.

Bilawal also praised his mother, late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, for paying special attention to the metropolis and working tirelessly to bring peace and provide employment opportunities to its residents.

He also stated that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto fought against two military regimes.

The PPP chairman emphasized that the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway project will not only connect Karachi, but the entire Sindh with the rest of the country, and provide employment opportunities to the residents of the metropolis.

“My favorite project ‘Shahrah-e-Bhutto’ is being built under a public-private partnership. Numerous projects have been successfully completed through public-private partnerships,” he said.

“We have always endeavored to provide facilities to the public either free or at the lowest possible rates. Thanks to the Sindh government, the toll has been fixed at Rs. 100 and it is hoped that it will remain the same.”

Bilawal emphasized that Pakistan’s development was closely linked to Karachi’s progress.

He said his father and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari allocated the highest funds for Karachi’s development.

He accused the Center of treating Sindh unfairly and described the distribution of resources as unfair.

“The federal government is treating Sindh like a stepchild. The federal government is making excuses and withholding resources in the province,” he said.

“When rights are not properly allocated, it becomes extremely difficult to provide essential facilities.”

The PPP Chairman stated that the Public Private Partnership had been introduced to address the lack of resources, noting that it had been running successfully.

“I encourage [Sindh] Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to engage and satisfy Karachi’s business community. The business sector will not operate on goodwill alone. If they (business) and the city’s residents benefit, only then will we achieve success.’

He stressed the need to foster public-private partnerships to address the province’s problems, especially those in Karachi.

He noted that Karachi had been facing a long-standing water problem and urged his government to give top priority to solving this problem.

Earlier, Bilawal personally drove the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway, paid the Rs 100 toll and conducted a thorough inspection of the project.