Daily Times

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spent the better part of his time at a rally in Khangarh on Sunday on the agricultural policies added in his party’s manifesto for the 2018 elections.

He said that after winning the elections, his party would introduce kisaan and food cards on the pattern of the Benazir Income Support Programme to end poverty. He said that through the Kisaan card farmers would be registered to avail subsidies and interest free loans. “Farmers would be given Urea bag at Rs 500 instead of the existing market price of Rs 1,800,” he said, adding crops would be insured for natural calamities.

Bilawal said that Pakistan was an agricultural economy but when the PPP had come into government in 2008, the country was importing wheat and only Rs 400 per maund were being paid to farmers. “We increased this to Rs1,200,” he said, adding that after winning the upcoming elections, the PPP would provide subsidy on rice, wheat, pulses and other crops besides wheat.

Further speaking on socio-economic issues, Bilawal said 60 percent of the country’s population living below poverty line needed social protection programmes. “PPP will introduce food cards through which edibles will be made available at low prices and women-owned food stores will be established at the level of union councils,” he said, adding that poverty reduction programmes would not only end food deprivation, unemployment but also empower women.

On the Seraiki province issue, he said PPP had always raised its voice for the Seraiki province. “I have always fought for the rights of southern Punjab,” he said, and went on to highlight the achievements of his party’s government in Sindh. He said PPP had established new hospitals and universities, besides starting the Thar coal project to solve energy crisis. “But our opponents always keep referring to lack of metros,” he said, “I want to ask them why don’t they look at the countless welfare projects undertaken in Sindh and replicate those in Punjab?”

He said that after coming to power PPP would set up Reverse Osmosis filtration plants in Punjab to save water.

Calling Imran Khan U-turn Khan, Bilawal said that he could not even establish a single university or hospital in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. “He couldn’t even change KP and says that he will change Pakistan. Elections are only 17 days away and Imran Khan has not even given his manifesto,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Bilawal arrived at Khangarh on the invitation of Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, who is contesting polls from NA-184, and Akhtar Gopang, a candidate in PP 271.

Bilawal acknowledged the struggle of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and remembered him for his struggle against General Zia’s dictatorship. “My mother would be very pleased today to see his son standing beside the son of Nawabzada Nasrullah. We are both struggling to fulfill her promises and to save Pakistan,” he said, before addressing the gathering as he visited the Nawabzada Nasrullah’s mausoleum to pay respect.

Irshad Siyal (NA 182), Raza Rabbani Khar (NA 183), Amjad Abbas Qureshi, Malik Bilal Khar, and Rasool Bakhsh Jatoi accompanied him.

The PPP chairman would address a rally in Multan on Monday (today).

Published in Daily Times, July 9^th 2018.