KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday once again urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to honour his commitments for the development of Karachi, stressing that both the Sindh government and the PPP have consistently raised the city’s issues with federal authorities and coalition partners.

Speaking to reporters in Karachi, the PPP chairman said, “At the government level, it’s the Sindh and federal governments that interact, while at the party level, it’s the PPP and PML-N that engage. We repeatedly draw the prime minister’s attention to Karachi’s key issues, including projects like K-IV. And we remain hopeful that the prime minister will continue working on his promise to bring ‘Shehbaz Speed’ to Karachi’s development.”

He reiterated that the Sindh government has been vocal about the metropolis’ challenges, from water shortages to stalled infrastructure projects, and said the city deserved urgent federal attention.

Flood Response: Praise and Criticism

Bilawal also spoke about the federal government’s handling of the recent floods, welcoming steps such as the declaration of an agricultural emergency and relief in August electricity bills. However, he criticised the government’s failure to launch a global aid appeal, calling it “unfortunate.”

“When a disaster of this scale strikes, the immediate response should be to reach out to international organisations that are specifically established to help in such situations. Unfortunately, that appeal still hasn’t been made. As a result, the immediate relief and rescue support that Pakistan should have received has yet to arrive,” he said.

He further urged that politics must not be staged during such humanitarian crises.

Pakistan–China Relations

In an interview with Chinese media, the former foreign minister highlighted Pakistan’s gains from defence ties with China, noting that Chinese technology had enabled Pakistan to down six Indian aircraft during past conflicts despite limited resources.

Rejecting Western binaries, he said, “The slogan ‘with us or against us’ is a Western concept. Pakistan believes in the Chinese philosophy of cooperation and mutual benefit.”

Bilawal also pointed out that President Asif Ali Zardari remains the Pakistani head of state with the most visits to China, where he recently inspected agricultural and defence production facilities and oversaw the signing of several memoranda of understanding.

Karachi’s Water Projects

Turning to water shortages in Karachi, Bilawal said the Sindh government and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation must work together to address the issue. He highlighted the launch of the Hub Canal project and the ongoing construction of two sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 100 MGD, of which 35 MGD would be processed at the current site for industrial use.

“These projects will help ease Karachi’s water shortage and ensure sustainable industrial supply,” he noted.

Tribute to Mir Murtaza Bhutto

Separately, on the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Bilawal paid rich tribute to his uncle, describing him as a “valiant son of the soil” who stood against tyranny and upheld the democratic ideals of his father, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

In a statement issued by the Media Cell of Bilawal House, he said, “Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto’s assassination remains a permanent wound on the nation’s conscience — a sinister plot of ‘kill one Bhutto to weaken another Bhutto.’ His courage, his sacrifices, and his devotion to the people’s rights will never be forgotten.”

Bilawal concluded that the PPP remains committed to carrying forward the mission of its martyrs: “to build a democratic, just, and prosperous Pakistan.”