Larkana, November 6,2026: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday urged the federal government to engage all stakeholders and set aside political differences, saying the country’s economic difficulties required collective attention.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of a 600-bed hospital in Larkana, Bilawal said people were struggling with economic hardships and the government should focus on public welfare rather than political confrontations.
“The people of Pakistan are finding it difficult to live economically,” he said, adding that every country’s first responsibility was to look after its people.
“If we fight the PTI, Maulana [Fazlur Rehman], terrorists, India and Afghanistan, we will remain occupied with this work. When will we focus on economic development?” he asked.
The PPP chairman called on the federal government to engage all stakeholders and work towards resolving economic challenges through dialogue.
Speaking about electoral reforms, Bilawal urged the PTI to participate in the committee formed to discuss changes to the electoral process.
He called on opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate to ensure the party’s representation in the committee without conditions, saying they had been given full authority by PTI founder Imran Khan to make the decision.
Bilawal said the PPP had approached opposition leaders and asked them to nominate representatives. He noted that the opposition had previously insisted that Khan should first be released or allowed to meet party leaders before taking part in other matters.
He said the PTI and some government representatives had raised allegations of electoral rigging, adding that the proposed committee could provide a starting point for addressing concerns if all sides believed the elections had been manipulated.
Bilawal alleged that electoral manipulation had been aimed at preventing the PPP from succeeding, adding that his party had consistently advocated electoral reforms.
Separately, Bilawal described his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as positive, saying both sides had worked together to formulate a strategy.
He said the federal government’s budgets had been approved with PPP support and that the Centre was now extending assistance for development projects.
However, he noted that Balochistan had raised concerns over the absence of federal development projects in the province. He also said he had suggested that the prime minister hold cabinet meetings in different provinces.
Speaking about the new hospital, Bilawal said Chandka Hospital had been a gift from former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the people but could no longer cope with its growing patient burden.
He said patients from Balochistan, particularly Naseerabad and surrounding areas, also travelled to Larkana for medical treatment.
Recalling his first election as an MNA, Bilawal said he had contacted the medical superintendent of Chandka Medical College and learned about the difficulties facing the institution.
He said the PPP wanted to provide healthcare facilities of international standards and ensure that no citizen was denied treatment because of financial constraints.
“In the present circumstances, free healthcare facilities are more important for the people,” he said.
Bilawal added that Sindh was spending Rs45 billion on higher education, while the provincial government was also focusing on expanding healthcare facilities across the province in view of the prevailing economic situation.
