Opposition’s politics need to be ‘political’ for negotiations, says Bilawal

KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Sindh has made significant progress in the health sector, particularly after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, claiming that no other province can match Sindh’s performance in this area.

Speaking on various national and political issues, Bilawal Bhutto stated that child mortality rates have decreased in Sindh, adding that saving children’s lives remains the top priority of the provincial government. He said the Sindh government is carrying out development work that is not being done in other provinces and is actively trying to reduce the problems faced by common people.

Commenting on the country’s economic situation, the PPP chairman said that Pakistan is still facing serious economic challenges. While acknowledging that the country has escaped the immediate risk of default, he stressed that further efforts are needed to stabilize and improve the economy. “The real test of economic development is when the common man becomes prosperous,” he said, noting that the purchasing power of ordinary citizens has declined.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models can help provide better facilities to the people and urged the federation to adopt this approach more broadly. He said no single political party can pull the country out of its problems alone, and political parties must find solutions through political means.

Referring to his mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal said she always advocated reconciliation and dialogue. He added that opposition parties must also act responsibly and contribute positively to the political process.

Bilawal expressed gratitude to Nawaz Sharif for sending a delegation on Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary, clarifying that no political discussions took place with the PML-N delegation. He said President Asif Ali Zardari would have to play an important role in promoting political reconciliation.

Addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the PPP chairman said that politics should remain within constitutional and political boundaries, warning that attacks on state institutions create instability. He also stressed the need for electoral reforms before the next elections, calling for an election system that all political parties can trust.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari clarified that he was not calling for early elections, adding that elections would take place in due course. “If not today, then tomorrow, we will have to adopt a political attitude, otherwise there will be losses,” he said, remarking that the writing is on the wall and elections are not expected to happen soon.