CHILAS (Dunya News) – Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has called on the federal government to accelerate work on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, arguing that the project has become increasingly important in light of what he described as India’s “water aggression” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing an election rally at a football ground in Chilas on Wednesday, Bilawal said the dam should be treated as a national priority and completed without further delay. He urged the federal authorities to focus on the project before initiating other development schemes through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The PPP chairman said his party had secured the highest number of votes in the previous Gilgit-Baltistan elections but alleged that nine seats had been taken away from the party. He accused rival political groups of attempting to influence the electoral process and said the PPP was relying solely on public support ahead of the June 7 vote.
Bilawal expressed confidence that PPP supporters would help elect a chief minister from the party, promising that a future PPP government would fulfil its commitments to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He highlighted the party’s longstanding ties with the residents of Chilas, describing the relationship as spanning three generations.
During his speech, Bilawal paid tribute to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, saying she had challenged military rulers and became a symbol of the voices of ordinary Pakistanis. He also praised President Asif Ali Zardari for restoring the 18th Constitutional Amendment and advancing welfare initiatives associated with the PPP’s longstanding “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” slogan.
He announced that the upcoming federal budget would include an increase in funding for the Benazir Income Support Programme, describing the move as part of the party’s efforts to support lower-income households.
Turning to the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, Bilawal said it should have been completed years ago and claimed that political developments had delayed its construction. Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directly, he called for the same urgency often associated with major infrastructure projects in Lahore to be applied to Diamer-Bhasha.
The PPP chairman also highlighted what he described as three major achievements of the party: strengthening Pakistan’s democratic framework through constitutional reforms, advancing the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and ending the presence of foreign military bases in Pakistan. He said the party had consistently defended national sovereignty and taken decisions in the country’s long-term interests.
Referring to the legacy of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal said Pakistan still needed a political force capable of engaging confidently with the international community while safeguarding national interests.