GILGIT/SKARDU:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Gilgit-Baltistan must be granted the same constitutional protections, powers and facilities available to the other provinces under the 18th Amendment, arguing that only then would its people gain true ownership of their resources and control over their future.
Addressing election rallies in Skardu and Gilgit as campaigning intensifies ahead of the G-B general elections on June 7, Bilawal said his party’s “new generation” would continue as a struggle for the region’s right to govern, own resources and secure employment opportunities for its youth.
He said the PPP’s vision was rooted in its founding slogan of “Roti, Kapra Aur Makaan”, adding that it could only be realised if three principles were ensured: the right to governance, the right to ownership and the right to employment. “If we have to implement the manifesto in its true sense, we will have to work on these principles,” he said.
Bilawal argued that development in G-B had been constrained by excessive centralisation, saying decisions were historically made in Islamabad without meaningful local ownership. He said every development project in the region should include local participation and benefits.
Citing examples from Sindh, he said communities in Thar had been provided electricity, jobs and even equity stakes in coal projects, though many had opted for financial compensation instead. He said benefits from Thar Coal ultimately extended across Pakistan, but local communities were prioritised first.
The PPP chairman also highlighted Sindh’s post-flood housing programme, describing it as one of the largest in the world, with 2 million permanent homes being constructed and registered in the names of women to ensure long-term security.
Bilawal said that G-B had significant untapped hydropower potential, referring to past estimates suggesting up to 50,000 megawatts could be generated. He criticised what he described as reduced projections in recent years, and said delays in development had deprived the region of progress.
The PPP chairman said that the PPP would expand electricity generation through public-private partnerships while also strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the region, including hospitals offering free treatment.
On the political front, Bilawal said he had personally travelled to every tehsil of G-B, claiming no other politician had undertaken similar outreach. He contrasted the current campaign with previous elections, saying earlier polls were held in a celebratory atmosphere, while the present one was marked by grief.
The PPP chairman said his party remained committed to supporting the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which he described as the only federal initiative reaching households at the grassroots level. He warned that political attempts to undermine the programme would fail.
He said BISP had also gained international recognition, with several countries expressing interest in replicating similar welfare models. “From Egypt to Brazil and across Africa, there is a desire to launch programmes like BISP to support poor families,” he said.
Without naming political rivals, Bilawal criticised calls for ending social welfare schemes, saying some forces focused on eliminating support for the poor instead of addressing subsidies for the wealthy. He said the PPP would not only protect BISP but also push for increased allocations in the upcoming budget.
Referring to defence and foreign policy, he said Pakistan had not allowed foreign military bases during his party’s tenure, contrasting it with earlier periods in the country’s history. He credited Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with initiating Pakistan’s nuclear programme and Benazir Bhutto with advancing its missile capabilities.
Bilawal said Pakistan must be strong both economically and defensively, criticising the widening inequality in economic policy. “What kind of system is it where the rich become richer and the poor become poorer,” he said, adding that only the PPP could correct such imbalance.
He also touched on regional conflicts, saying wars in Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria had inflicted suffering on civilians, including children, and imposed global economic costs. He said he prayed for the success of ongoing peace efforts led by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, stressing that stability was essential for development.
Calling for restraint in global conflicts, he said Pakistan had consistently opposed war and supported peace initiatives. He also referred to past foreign policy decisions, including the closure of foreign military bases following sovereignty concerns, which he said reflected national dignity.
Concluding his campaign message, Bilawal urged voters to support the PPP in the June 7 elections, saying his party would ensure ownership rights, development and improved public services across Gilgit-Baltistan.
(WITH INPUTS FROM NEWS DESK)
