Bilawal hails ‘transformation’ of Thar

On Monday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari praised the progress of Thar, saying the region’s improvements in health, education, and energy demonstrate that the development model can be replicated nationwide. Addressing the inauguration of Phase III of the Thar Coal Block II project in Islamkot tehsil, Bilawal highlighted that no other part of the country had experienced a transformation like Thar’s. He criticized the "politics of hatred, division, and Zionism" in Sindh.

Bilawal emphasized that the development in Thar was a significant victory for the Constitution and the 18th Amendment, adding that substantial advancements had been made in the region’s health and education sectors. He noted that the entire country was impressed by Thar’s progress and argued that Islamabad should adopt a similar development model.

Bilawal stated that Thar’s children are now topping examinations, a tradition that should be celebrated rather than overshadowed by political rhetoric and hatred. He praised the region’s success as proof of what can be achieved through sustained development efforts.

Regarding the Thar coal project, Bilawal noted that experts in Islamabad previously dismissed the coal as useless. However, he said the situation had shifted dramatically, with Thar’s coal now contributing to some of the country’s most affordable electricity and saving Pakistan $1.6 billion. He stressed that local resources could significantly contribute to Pakistan’s economic development and energy security.

Bilawal questioned the logic behind calls for new provinces, arguing that if the existing system had failed, creating new provinces was not the solution. He challenged those advocating for new provinces to hand over governance of Islamabad to the people of Thar, asserting that the region’s youth could demonstrate the potential of effective governance and development.

He vowed that the PPP would bring development to Karachi through public-private partnerships, suggesting the same approach could benefit other parts of the country. Bilawal reiterated his commitment to making hospitals in Islamabad free and modernize them to international standards, if entrusted with Islamabad's responsibility.