KARACHI:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Sindh is not competing with any other city or province in Pakistan, but rather with the developed nations of the world emphasizing that the province’s achievements are, in fact, a reflection of Pakistan’s collective progress.
Speaking at a ceremony held at the Arts Council of Karachi for the launch of Senator Raza Rabbani’s new book, Bilawal praised writers and intellectuals for their lasting contributions to history. He recalled that his late mother, former prime minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, also authored several books that continue to inspire generations.
“I encourage our senior party members to write as well. Those who write leave behind a legacy that endures through time,” Bilawal said, adding that the PPP has played a crucial role in shaping Pakistan’s constitutional and political narrative.
Bilawal expressed delight at the presence of veteran leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah, crediting him for establishing the Khairpur Special Economic Zone a project later recognized by the Financial Times as one of the world’s best. He reminded the audience that the PPP pioneered the concept of public-private partnerships, an idea first introduced by Benazir Bhutto in the party’s 1993 manifesto.
“A few years ago, an international publication ranked the world’s most successful public-private partnership models and Sindh’s initiative was among them,” he noted.
Highlighting the province’s progress, Bilawal stated, “Sindh’s success is Pakistan’s success. We are not in competition with any province or city; we are competing with the world’s leading economies. Wherever Pakistan shines, we all should take pride in it.”
He pointed out that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had gained global recognition for its effectiveness in uplifting underprivileged families. “During my visits abroad as foreign minister, world leaders told me they were adopting our model. It remains one of the most impactful social welfare systems for the poorest communities,” he said.
Bilawal remarked that no other country has such an efficient mechanism to assist citizens in times of crisis. “The world was astonished by how Pakistan managed relief distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though Imran Khan renamed it the Ehsaas Programme, it was still the same BISP model that delivered support,” he added.
Recalling his tenure as foreign minister during the devastating 2022 floods, Bilawal said Sindh and Balochistan were hit the hardest, with southern Punjab also suffering severe damage. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif immediately directed the use of BISP to provide emergency cash assistance to flood-affected families,” he said, noting that the same system was also used effectively during the pandemic.
Bilawal shared that UN Secretary-General António Guterres had personally praised Sindh’s response efforts during his visit to Pakistan.
He went on to stress that Pakistan bears the brunt of climate change despite contributing little to its causes. “We are all in this together. The fight against climate change is a shared responsibility,” he said.
Bilawal also highlighted Karachi’s National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) as a world-class facility providing free treatment including cardiac and cancer care and receiving international acknowledgment for its service model.
Congratulating Raza Rabbani on his new book, Bilawal said it was admirable that the senator had dedicated it to the children of Gaza. “Pakistan and the entire Muslim world stand firmly with the people of Gaza,” he declared. “The world has witnessed genocide not just of children, but also of journalists, doctors, and nurses. For two years now, we have been watching the systematic massacre of Palestinians.”
