Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Sindh and Karachi currently enjoy a stronger democratic environment than any other province or city in the country. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Shahrah-e-Bhutto, a major project developed under a public-private partnership, he emphasized the importance of local governments in strengthening democratic institutions.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that Sindh is the only province that provides resources to town chairmen regardless of their political affiliation. He claimed that there is no effective local government system in Islamabad and Punjab, while local governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were stripped of powers after authority had been devolved to them. According to him, Sindh has played a leading role in promoting democratic governance.
During his address, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also outlined several development initiatives aimed at boosting Karachi’s economic growth. He expressed his commitment to establishing an International Financial Center in the city and highlighted plans to develop a port at Keti Bandar through a public-private partnership.
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He said Karachi remains the economic hub of Pakistan and can attract greater investment through modern infrastructure and large-scale development projects. Furthermore, he noted that such initiatives would create employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s overall economic progress. He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also discussed Pakistan’s defense industry, stating that demand for the country’s defense products has increased significantly following what he described as Pakistan’s decisive success against India. He added that he wants Karachi to play an important role in the production and development of “Made in Pakistan” defense equipment.
In the concluding part of his speech, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized what he called a war imposed on Iran by the United States and Israel. He also praised the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for working toward a ceasefire, saying that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective tools for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.