Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari emphasized the urgent need for the federal government to expedite the completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, describing it as essential for the nation. Speaking at an election rally in Diamer on Wednesday, he asserted that the dam is not only a rightful project for the people of Diamer but also a critical necessity for Pakistan as a whole.
Bilawal strongly condemned India’s breach of the Indus Waters Treaty, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of weaponizing water resources as a form of terrorism. He stressed that no other project holds greater importance than the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to demonstrate “Shehbaz speed” in finalizing the dam at the earliest possible date.
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam, designed to generate 4,500 megawatts of electricity, carries an estimated cost of $15 billion. Once completed, it is expected to rank among the world’s largest dams. The project is anticipated to boost Pakistan’s economy significantly by irrigating 1.2 million acres of farmland and extending the operational life of the Tarbela Dam by 35 years.
Addressing voters in Gilgit-Baltistan ahead of the June 7 elections, Bilawal urged them to elect a PPP chief minister, highlighting the party’s continued public support. He noted that although the PPP secured the highest number of votes in the previous Gilgit-Baltistan elections, it was denied nine seats.
Bilawal also paid tribute to the political legacy of former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, emphasizing their dedication to advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. Reflecting on his mother’s assassination, he remarked that some had doubted the continuation of leadership after her death.
He praised President Asif Ali Zardari for persistently championing the people’s cause following Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Bilawal credited President Zardari with initiating the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and acknowledged his ongoing commitment to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Reiterating his vision for the region, Bilawal expressed his desire for Gilgit-Baltistan to benefit from the 18th Amendment, believing that a stronger Gilgit-Baltistan would contribute positively to Pakistan’s overall economic development.
Highlighting the PPP government’s achievements in Sindh, he pointed to the expansion of healthcare services since the 18th Amendment. Bilawal noted the establishment of a comprehensive hospital network in Sindh, where medicines, surgeries, and transplants are provided free of charge, and pledged to extend similar healthcare facilities to Gilgit-Baltistan.
Bilawal also referenced the closure of foreign military bases during previous PPP administrations, asserting that all such bases had been shut down and foreign forces asked to leave. In a veiled critique of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, he challenged claims that Khan had opposed foreign military bases, clarifying that these facilities had been closed prior to Khan’s statements.
