Bilawal Pledges Fifth Province Status, Land Ownership for Gilgit-Baltistan

Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has vowed to transform Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) into Pakistan’s fifth province and hand over 28,000 square kilometers of land to its residents if his party secures a majority in the upcoming regional assembly elections.

Addressing a rally in Ghizer, Bilawal extended greetings and offered “Deedar Mubarak” to the gathering. He noted that while the people of Ghizer had welcomed Prince Rahim Aga Khan to the region, the PPP leadership had the honor of receiving him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. He recalled hosting the late Prince Karim Aga Khan during the first government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and noted President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent reception of Prince Rahim Aga Khan, with First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari greeting him at the airport. Bilawal announced that Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s next visit would be to Karachi, where he would personally host him.

Election Ambitions and Historical Grievances

Bilawal recounted his extensive campaign across Gilgit-Baltistan during the last elections, asserting that while the PPP had won the mandate, seats were “unjustly snatched” from the party. He declared that this time, God willing, the PPP would sweep all three seats in Ghizer. He emphasized that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and President Asif Ali Zardari all served the people of GB during their respective tenures, and now, that privilege would fall to him.

Historic Contributions and Provincial Status

Highlighting the PPP’s legacy, Bilawal noted that the wheat subsidy introduced by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remains operational today. He credited President Zardari giving GB its distinct identity by establishing the offices the Governor and Chief Minister.

“I want to go to Islamabad and tell them that before making any other province, GB should be made the fifth province of Pakistan,” Bilawal stated. The party aims to secure a constitution for GB so that the local population obtains the right to sovereignty and can fully exercise their right of ownership.

Land Rights and Legislative Achievements

Bilawal reminded the audience that the PPP facilitated the appointment of Shahbaz Sharif as Prime Minister twice. He paid tribute to the PPP parliamentary party and PPP GB President Amjad Sahib for successfully passing the law for land ownership rights in the assembly. He pledged to implement this law, requiring a majority in the GB assembly to transfer 28,000 square kilometers of land to the people.

“This is why the PPP needs a decisive victory, as I want a Jiyala as the Chief Minister of GB to ensure the people truly become the owners of this land,” he said.

Drawing parallels with the party’s governance in Sindh, Bilawal emphasized that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bh had originally empowered the poor through land ownership. Currently, in Sindh, the PPP is transferring land titles to 2 million women marking the largest land reform initiative in the country’s history. He appealed to the people of GB to turn out in large numbers on June 7 to vote for the party by stamping the arrow symbol. He also promised to launch a housing scheme modeled after the Sindh Peoples Housing Initiative, starting from Ghizer.

Employment and Modern Governance

Bilawal stated that the party’s third major pledge is employment. He recalled that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto created jobs within the country and abroad for the youth, while Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto declared that “if providing jobs is a crime, she would commit this crime again and again.” He accused other political parties of snatching jobs from the local people, citing the PML-N and PTI as examples. He maintained that once elected, the PPP’s mandate would be to provide merit-based employment to jobless youth of GB.

Bilawal shared that the PPP is integrating modern technology into governance by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Balochistan to ensure merit-based employment. As soon as the AI-driven test is completed, candidates will immediately know their grade. If successful, the party will introduce it in Sindh and.

Ideological Clarity and Final Appeal

Bilawal emphasized that the PPP stands as a party of a ideology and manifesto, whereas opposing parties possess none. He highlighted the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as aligned with the PPP’s ideology. He appealed to the people to come out on Election Day and stamp the arrow, the PPPs election symbol.