Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday inaugurated 11 healthcare projects in Quetta, reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to serving underprivileged communities, emphasizing that the true essence of politics lies in providing health, education, and basic facilities to the people.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s House, he stressed that free and quality healthcare was the right of every Pakistani and said efforts were underway to ensure the provision of basic facilities in underdeveloped regions.
The event was attended by Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, former Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, provincial ministers, advisers, parliamentary secretaries, members of the national and provincial assemblies, senior bureaucrats, and PPP leaders and workers.
The PPP chairman said that Sarfaraz Bugti had originally planned to inaugurate 20 projects, but 11 were launched during the current visit, while the remaining projects would be inaugurated after Eid. Bilawal added that he had requested the chief minister to invite him to Quetta more frequently to review development progress.
Bilawal highlighted that government support for ordinary citizens not only provides relief but also strengthens the country and its economy. He noted that global economic challenges disproportionately affect underdeveloped regions, making healthcare a fundamental right that must be accessible to all, regardless of financial status.
Among the projects inaugurated were the Air Ambulance Service and the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Ambulance Service, followed by a visit to the newly established Quetta Trauma Centre. The 150-bed facility, equipped with international-standard medical services, will provide free and quality treatment. Bilawal pointed out that this was Balochistan’s first fully paperless medical system, linking 164 basic health units to a digital network and improving vaccination coverage.
He also addressed maternal mortality concerns, recalling PPP’s efforts in Sindh to reduce such rates and pledging similar measures in Balochistan. He announced collaboration with the ChildLife Foundation to enhance emergency healthcare and suggested that the provincial government partner with the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) to further strengthen healthcare delivery.
Acknowledging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s support in providing funds, Bilawal stressed that digital systems in healthcare and recruitment would yield positive outcomes. Bilawal also announced plans to establish the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases model in Balochistan similar to Sindh.
Bilawal said opponents spreading negative propaganda against Pakistan and the province were being answered through practical development work.
Bilawal expressed optimism that the journey of public service in Balochistan would continue despite challenges such as inflation, poverty, and declining purchasing power. He commended Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and his team for their dedication, noting that free education and healthcare would provide significant relief to the people.
“Everything is not perfect and many challenges remain, but if we continue working together with dedication, success will follow,” Bilawal said.