Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated the first phase of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway in Karachi.
Speaking at the ceremony on Saturday, Bilawal highlighted the PPP’s three generations of commitment to Karachi’s progress. “From Shahrah-e-Faisal to Steel Mills, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto initiated revolutionary projects for the city. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto also stood firm against authoritarian regimes for Pakistan’s development,” he said.
He also claimed that no one had allocated as many resources for Karachi as did President Asif Zardari. Bilawal emphasised the importance of the expressway project in addressing Karachi’s traffic woes.
“This project will connect Karachi with other parts of the country, and is a favourite, as it is built on the public-private partnership model,” he remarked. He said he personally paid Rs100 at the toll plaza and suggested that the toll fee remain affordable for commuters.
Bilawal also pointed out the strain caused by the city’s rapidly growing population, which includes people from across the country and abroad. “This puts immense pressure on resources,” he said, adding that Karachi's water, utility, and infrastructure problems would be solved through public-private partnership.
The PPP chairman praised the Sindh government for implementing projects through public-private partnerships, which he said was being done under compulsion.
“Our model is being appreciated globally, and we are extending it to health, education, and green energy projects,” he said. However, he criticised the federal government for neglecting Sindh, claiming it treats the province like a “stepchild” by withholding resources on various pretexts.
Bilawal further remarked that people from all over the country, and other countries, settle in Karachi, but it becomes extremely difficult to provide all the resources. "The private sector will not do any work over contacts, they will have to provide one-on-one assistance," he added.
Bilawal reiterated his commitment to collaboration and inclusive governance. “The PPP rejects politics of extremism and revenge. We want to run this city and country together. I invite the Sindh government, the private sector, and the people to work collectively for Karachi’s and Pakistan’s progress,” he concluded.
