MITHI: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while inaugurating the NED University–affiliated Thar Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology and the School of Modern Sciences in Tharparkar—Sindh’s desert district—said that the development of Tharparkar is vital to Pakistan’s progress, just as the development of Sindh and all four provinces is indispensable for the country’s overall advancement and prosperity.
The PPP Chairman, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the NED University–affiliated institutions, described the initiative as a gift from the Sindh government to the people of Tharparkar. He paid rich tribute to the people of the district for their unwavering loyalty to the Pakistan Peoples Party and said: “The people of Tharparkar have always stood by the PPP, Ms Benazir Bhutto, and by late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “
“Through the tireless efforts undertaken by the Pakistan Peoples Party—particularly for the development of Tharparkar—we have also demonstrated how deeply the Party loves and stands with the people of this region.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated that Tharparkar’s development was integral to Pakistan’s progress, just as the development of Sindh and all four provinces was essential for the country’s overall advancement. He said that from time to time, a deliberate and organized campaign was launched to malign not only Tharparkar but the entire province. He said that under a calculated agenda and conspiracy, certain forces south to undermine provincial rights and seize control over provincial powers and resources, using the baseless pretext that the Sindh government or smaller provinces had failed to deliver and that all authority and resources should therefore be centralized in Islamabad.
He added “Tharparkar itself stands as the strongest rebuttal to this false narrative, clearly demonstrating how the district has undergone a visible transformation in development after the 18th Constitutional Amendment—a change that is evident to the entire world”
He said that Thar coal was an asset of the people of Tharparkar, and that Tharparkar possessed as much coal as Saudi Arabia had oil. “Unfortunately, you were not allowed to utilize this resource. Whenever Ms Benazir Bhutto made efforts in this regard, those attempts were sabotaged through conspiracies,” he added.
He said that the Thar Coal Project had not only brought about an economic revolution in Tharparkar but had also benefited industrial cities like Faisalabad through electricity generation. He added that beyond the economic transformation, Thar coal has also driven a social revolution. “Where once there were no dispensaries, no Basic Health Units, and no hospitals, today—due to government investment and economic gains—a comprehensive healthcare system has been established across Tharparkar. Alongside dispensaries and BHUs, roads were built and the Thar Foundation was established, into which a portion of profits from Thar coal is allocated to carry out social welfare. Under this foundation, hospitals have been set up and are being run in public-private partnership with Indus Hospital.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the establishment of an NED University of Engineering and Technology institute in Tharparkar was a long-standing demand of the local people, particularly the youths, and work on it began in 2019. He added that the Chief Minister of Sindh had assured that before the end of the current government’s term, the NED campus would be granted the status of a full-fledged university. He said that similar efforts were underway across Sindh, emphasizing that the PPP government was pro-poor and people-friendly. “Whether it is healthcare or education, we prioritize the interests of the people of this province,” he said, adding that it is a fact that under PPP governments, the number of universities in Sindh has doubled, and when campuses are included, the figure increases further.
“Whether educational institutions or healthcare facilities—be it in Sindh or at the federal level—wherever the PPP has had the opportunity, we have delivered through practical work.” Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed satisfaction over the significant presence of female students at this important educational institution in Tharparkar, saying it fulfilled the vision of Ms Benazir Bhutto, who believed in ensuring equal educational opportunities for women. He also said he was proud to learn that youths from Gilgit-Baltistan had come to Tharparkar to pursue their studies at the NED University campus. He said that those who believe Sindh’s development can only be routed through Islamabad have been proven wrong by the performance of the Sindh government. “Whether in education, healthcare, or power generation through public-private partnerships, Sindh has delivered major projects through its own initiative and capacity,” he added. On the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial Minister for Universities and Boards Mohammad Ismail Rahoo, other members of the provincial cabinet, legislators, local government representatives, party officials, and prominent figures from the area were also present.
