ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated Sindh’s serious concerns over the construction of new canals from the Indus River, emphasizing that the matter should be resolved through consensus and reviewed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Key Points from Bilawal’s Press Talk:
- Concerns Over Indus Canals: Bilawal criticized the government’s unilateral decision to carve out new canals from the Indus, highlighting that President Asif Ali Zardari also raised the issue in his address to the National Assembly.
- Call for CCI Review: He stressed that the CCI is the appropriate forum to resolve the water distribution dispute and urged the government to consider Sindh’s objections.
- PPP’s Stance on Provincial Rights: Bilawal stated that the PPP has always defended provincial rights, recalling the party’s history of raising water issues at every political platform.
- Agricultural Reforms: He reiterated the PPP’s commitment to supporting farmers and called for collective farming, smart irrigation, and public-private partnerships to boost agricultural productivity.
PPP-Government Relations & Law and Order Issues
- Political Cooperation: Bilawal stated that while the PPP is cooperating with the government, it has not yet reached the level of a formal coalition partnership.
- KP & Balochistan Security Concerns: He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to push the KP government to address the rising terrorism in the province and called for faster flood recovery efforts in Balochistan.
President’s ‘Historic’ Address & Business Sector Engagement
- Zardari’s Eighth Address: Bilawal praised President Zardari’s speech, calling it historic as it addressed key national issues including the economy, security, Kashmir, and Palestine.
- Engagement with Business Community: The FPCCI delegation met with Bilawal to discuss economic concerns, and he assured them of the PPP’s role in resolving business sector challenges.
Bilawal concluded by emphasizing the need for truthful media coverage and reaffirmed PPP’s commitment to collaborating on the upcoming federal budget.
