SKARDU: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday pledged to expand constitutional and economic rights for Gilgit-Baltistan, defended his party’s welfare programmes and highlighted Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities during a public rally in Skardu ahead of the general elections here.
Addressing the rally, Bilawal said the PPP remained committed to strengthening Pakistan through social welfare, economic development and democratic reforms. “Empowering ordinary citizens is key to the country’s progress.”
He credited former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with laying the foundation of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto with advancing the country’s missile programme.
Bilawal said Pakistan is the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear capability, which he claimed prevents other countries from viewing it aggressively. “Because of our nuclear deterrent, no country can look at Pakistan with hostile intentions,” he told the gathering.
The PPP chairman also claimed that foreign military bases had operated in Pakistan during Musharraf’s tenure. He said those facilities were later closed under the presidency of Asif Ali Zardari following the 2011 Salala incident.
Bilawal said the PPP would continue to protect and expand the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said the party would seek an increase in allocations for the programme in the upcoming federal budget and resist any attempts to roll it back.
Bilawal also highlighted the party’s housing initiatives in Sindh, saying around two million homes were being built with ownership rights for beneficiaries. He described the project as one of the world’s largest housing programmes aimed at helping flood-affected and low-income families.
Bilawal pledged that the PPP would work in Gilgit-Baltistan to extend greater powers and rights to the people, including benefits similar to those granted to provinces under Pakistan’s 18th Constitutional Amendment. “The country’s progress depends on ensuring rights and opportunities for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.
He said the PPP wants to strengthen Pakistan economically and believes in a long-standing political and generational connection with the people.
Bilawal noted that the political atmosphere in the last election was one of celebration, while the current environment feels more like mourning.
He criticized opposing political parties, saying they believe that supporting the wealthy alone leads to national development. “This approach only makes the rich richer and the poor poorer,” he said, adding that development should ensure fair income for farmers and jobs for young people.
Referring to the Thar coal project in Sindh, he said most jobs had been provided to the local residents, which he described as a model for inclusive development. He said Pakistan should continue supporting diplomatic and peace efforts to reduce tensions and prevent further humanitarian suffering in the Gulf.
The PPP chairman reiterated his party’s longstanding support for peaceful conflict resolution and said stability in the region was essential for economic recovery and development.
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