Bilawal pays tribute to ZAB

Says late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto empowered working and marginalised class

KARACHI:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid glowing tributes to Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on his 97th birth anniversary, honouring him as a visionary leader whose legacy continues to illuminate the path toward a stronger and more equitable Pakistan.

The PPP chairman said that late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the architect of modern Pakistan, a statesman who dedicated his life to empowering the people and laying the foundations of a progressive and self-reliant nation.

"Bhutto empowered the working class and the marginalised class through revolutionary policies in labour rights, land reforms, education, and healthcare," Bilawal said. "His struggle for democracy, human rights, and social justice remains an eternal source of inspiration for all."

He said that the late Bhutto believed that the strength of a nation lied in its people and he worked tirelessly to uplift them. He mentioned that it was first PPP government, which granted every citizen the right to hold passports, enabling millions to work abroad, especially in the Gulf countries.

He praised Bhutto's contributions to Pakistan's industrial and educational development, including establishment of the Pakistan Steel Mills, Port Qasim, Heavy Mechanical Complex, Allama Iqbal Open University and scores of other big industrial, commercial and educational projects across the country.

"His nuclear policy guaranteed strategic independence, while the dignified release of 90,000 prisoners of war after 1971 showcased his remarkable statesmanship. The Constitution of 1973, a hallmark of his vision, laid the democratic foundation of our country and remains a beacon of unity and justice."

On the foreign policy, Bilawal noted: "The 1974 Islamic Summit united Muslim countries and elevated Pakistan's global influence. Shaheed Bhutto's advocacy for the oppressed and commitment to justice earned him respect worldwide."

"As we honour his birth anniversary, we pledge to carry forward his mission of building a Pakistan defined by equality, dignity, and progress for all its citizens. His vision is our guiding light as we strive to fulfil his dream of a prosperous and inclusive nation," he added.