PPP chairman highlights Sindh’s progress, defends party record amid criticism
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that the Sindh government cannot be held responsible for constructing roads that fall under federal jurisdiction, stressing that criticism against his party often ignores constitutional divisions of authority.
Addressing diplomats, business leaders, and media representatives at the Presidency during a briefing titled “The Story of Sindh’s Transformation,” Bilawal said the Sindh government has taken wide-ranging steps to improve governance and public services across multiple sectors. He added that allegations claiming the PPP “has done nothing” are driven by specific political motives rather than facts.
“Authority should be devolved to the provinces, but roads that fall under the federal government cannot be built by the Sindh government,” Bilawal said, responding to criticism of Sindh’s infrastructure.
Bilawal presented a detailed overview of Sindh’s progress between 2008 and 2025, covering sectors such as health, education, climate change and water management, law and order, social protection, economy, energy, and transport. He said the PPP adopted a comprehensive strategy to tackle long-standing challenges faced by the province.
Highlighting infrastructure development, Bilawal stated that despite criticism, the Sindh government has constructed over 50,000 kilometers of roads across the province. He also pointed to major advancements in public transport, including the introduction of electric buses and the launch of the Pink Bus Service exclusively for women.
Responding to critics of the PPP, Bilawal said Tharparkar stands as the party’s strongest answer. “Look at Tharparkar in 2026; the transformation is visible,” he said.
He emphasized that Thar coal is a vital asset for local communities, stating that the region holds coal reserves comparable to Saudi Arabia’s oil wealth. “For decades, these resources were not allowed to be utilized. Today, Thar coal has brought about a social and economic revolution,” he said.
Bilawal added that government investment has led to the establishment of an extensive healthcare network across Tharparkar, improving access to medical services in remote areas. He reiterated that the PPP remains committed to the people of Tharparkar and considers the district’s development essential for Sindh’s overall progress.
Discussing healthcare reforms, Bilawal said Sindh increased its health budget from 2.9 percent to 10 percent, a move aimed at strengthening public hospitals and expanding free treatment facilities.
He noted that Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) now offers three CyberKnife units providing free cancer treatment, benefiting patients from 178 cities and 24 countries. According to official data, less than 50 percent of treated patients are from Sindh, while 31 percent are from Punjab, 11 percent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 7 percent from Balochistan, and 5 percent from other countries.
Bilawal further highlighted that Sindh provides some of the world’s most expensive cancer treatments free of cost and has established 11 NICVD-style cardiac hospitals. He said the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) expanded its bed capacity from 3,400 to 5,750, making it the world’s largest single pediatric hospital by bed count.
He also cited the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), which has performed 7,700 kidney transplants and treated 4.5 million patients free of cost, benefiting approximately 35 million people overall. Additionally, the Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) has conducted 1,362 liver transplants since 2016, with patients coming from all provinces.
Bilawal concluded by asserting that the PPP government has proven itself to be people-friendly and remains committed to inclusive development across Sindh.
