Sindh being treated as 'stepchild', says Bilawal

KARACHI:

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday stressed the critical role of Karachi in Pakistan's overall development, accusing the federal government of meting out a "stepchild treatment" to Sindh and withholding its resources under various pretexts.

Speaking at the inauguration of Phase I of the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway—formerly the Qayyumabad to Shah Faisal Malir Expressway he said his family has been contributing 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 revolutionised Karachi's infrastructure and laid the foundation for major projects, including the 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 establish peace and provide employment opportunities for its residents.

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

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

"My favourite project 'Shahrah-e-Bhutto' is being constructed under a public-private partnership. Numerous projects have been completed successfully through public-private partnerships," he said.

"We have always strived to provide facilities to the public either free of cost or at the lowest possible rates. Thanks to the Sindh government, the toll tax has been set at Rs100 and it is hoped that it will remain the same."

Bilawal emphasised that Pakistan's development was closely tied to Karachi's progress.

He stated that his father and PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari allocated the highest funds for Karachi's development.

He accused the Centre of treating Sindh unfairly and described the distribution of resources as unjust.

"Federal government is treating Sindh like a stepchild. The federal government makes excuses and withholds resources of the province," he said.

"When rights are not granted properly it becomes extremely difficult to provide essential facilities."

The PPP chairperson stated that the public-private partnership had been introduced to address the shortage of resources, noting that it had been running successfully.

"I urge [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 community) and the city's residents' benefit, only then will we achieve success."

He stressed the need to promote public-private partnerships to address the province's issues, particularly those of Karachi.

He noted that Karachi had been facing a long-standing water issue and urged his government to give it the highest priority to solve this problem.

Earlier, Bilawal personally drove along the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway, paid the Rs100 toll tax, and conducted a thorough inspection of the project.