LARKANA: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that federal development projects have been almost non-existent in Sindh for a long time, adding that there is a need for a meeting with the federation in Karachi to improve Sindh-Islamabad coordination.
Addressing a ceremony in Larkana on Friday, Bilawal said the perception is not wrong that federal development projects are not coming to Sindh, and urged the PMLN-led federal government to engage political and provincial stakeholders through dialogue instead of confrontation, stressing that the country’s focus should be on addressing economic challenges.
“Look at the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), which hardly includes any development projects in Sindh.”
He said he had advised the prime minister to hold cabinet meetings in different provinces to strengthen engagement with provincial governments. A meeting should also be held in Karachi to improve coordination with the federal government.
He added that there was an agreement to improve communication among the federal government, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the PPP, stressing that his party wanted to work with the federation for public welfare.
Discussing federal development projects in Sindh, Bilawal said several initiatives had been launched jointly by the federal and provincial governments between 2008 and 2013.
However, he thanked the prime minister for improvements in federal development initiatives in Sindh and assured him of the PPP’s cooperation wherever assistance was needed.
Speaking about healthcare facilities in Larkana, Bilawal said people from Balochistan also travelled to the city for medical treatment, placing an additional burden on its existing hospital.
He expressed hope that the new 600-bed hospital would be worthy of Larkana and provide healthcare facilities meeting international standards.
He said efforts would be made to ensure that no one was deprived of medical treatment because of financial difficulties, despite the economic challenges facing the country.
Urges government to review national and foreign policy
Bilawal said Pakistan can not make progress if the government continued engaging in disputes with political opponents and other stakeholders.
“We are fighting with the PTI, Maulana and terrorists. We are also fighting with Afghanistan and India. If we keep fighting everyone, how will we address the economic challenges facing the people?” he said.
The former foreign minister advised the federal government to maintain communication with all political and provincial stakeholders, urging it to set aside differences and concentrate on the country’s economic situation.
Bilawal acknowledged that the global economic crisis was affecting Pakistan as well, adding that the government was trying to resolve public problems through all possible means.
“Criticising is easy, but working is difficult,” he remarked.
Turning to international affairs, Bilawal said American voters had responded positively to the message of peace during the US election campaign, referring to President Donald Trump’s pledge to end wars.
He said people from the United States to Larkana were bearing the burden of wars, stressing the need to prioritise peace and dialogue.
