{"id":126941,"date":"2026-06-03T22:34:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=126941"},"modified":"2026-06-03T22:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:51:10","slug":"bilawal-pledges-to-address-diamer-bhasha-dam-resettlement-issues-if-ppp-wins-g-b-polls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/126941\/","title":{"rendered":"Bilawal pledges to address Diamer-Bhasha Dam resettlement issues if PPP wins G-B polls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Web desk(National Times)- PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed to address resettlement concerns of those affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on an \u201cimmediate basis\u201d if his party emerges victorious in the June 7 polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bilawal made the declaration while addressing a rally in Diamer, as the PPP and other political parties have, over the past few days, ramped up<\/a> efforts to garner support ahead of the polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the rally, the Bhutto scion asserted that the project saw \u201cgreat progress\u201d during the PPP\u2019s tenure. He added that had President Asif Ali Zardari\u2019s government not been removed in 2013, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would have been built by now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PPP chairman lamented that it was \u201cunfortunate\u201d that affected citizens of the region had not had their resettlement issues addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to promise you that after June 7 \u2014 when PPP forms government in GB \u2014 we will ensure that the work is [completed] and as far as resettlement is concerned, we will address it on an immediate basis,\u201d Bilawal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged the Centre to prioritise the construction of the dam. \u201cThis is not only the right of the people of Diamer, but it is a necessity for Pakistan,\u201d the PPP chairman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo project is more important for Pakistan at the moment than the Diamer-Bhasha Dam,\u201d Bilawal emphasised, calling on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to expedite work on the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have heard of your \u2018Shehbaz speed\u2019 in Lahore [..] please show your \u2018Shehbaz speed\u2019 to the people of Diamer as well and ensure that the project is completed,\u201d Bilawal quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam land-affected committee, under the \u2018Huqooq Do, Dam Banao\u2019 (ensure rights, build the dam) movement, staged<\/a> a sit-in in the Chilas and Thore areas of Diamer that lasted several days, over the non-implementation of a 2025 agreement<\/a> on compensation for those affected by the construction of the dam, among other demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Bilawal calls on GB to elect jiyala<\/em> CM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bilawal claimed that PPP was the \u201csole political party which was looking out for the interest of the people of GB and had the people\u2019s faith\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn June 7, the people of GB will demonstrate their power and elect a jiyala<\/em> chief minister,\u201d Bilawal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outlining PPP\u2019s contributions towards the region, Bilawal recalled that it was his father, President Zardari, who \u201cgave GB its current identity as the region was referred to as Northern Areas before\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking note of the regional crisis, Bilawal stressed that Pakistan needed a government \u201clike PPP who can look the world in the eye\u201d, adding that they were only able to do so as the party was the \u201ctrue representative of the Pakistani people\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called on the people of GB to \u201cstruggle against these difficult times and ensure the formation of a PPP government in the region\u201d. At this, Bilawal also voiced optimism that the country will see similar results in the next general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PPP chairman reiterated his support for \u201csecuring GB\u2019s constitutional rights,\u201d stressing that Islamabad must understand that \u201cPakistan can only prosper if the people of GB prosper\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He vowed that with the party\u2019s public-private partnership initiatives, \u201cnot only will you fulfil your own energy requirements but also sell it to the rest of the country\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am not here to air any grievances; it is not in our nature. Why was the Quaid-i-Awam<\/em> (former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) hanged or why my mother (former prime minister Benazir Bhutto) was martyred [..] have you ever heard me complain? or why was my father was imprisoned for 14 years [..] we are not the kind to complain; we only know how to take back our rights. So support me, and I will not disappoint you,\u201d Bilawal told the rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PPP chairman also took a jibe at the ruling ally PML-N, wondering why the \u201crest of the political parties campaigning in GB looked so worried\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrowing money at things might work in Lahore, but not in GB; the people here are honourable and cannot be bought,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany political parties make claims that they have carried out considerable development work in their provinces; I would like to tell you that whatever you have been able to do was because of President Zardari\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He recalled that President Zardari was responsible for the 18th Amendment, which enabled greater provincial development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf they were able to build metros or run trains in any city, it was because of the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award, which enabled provinces to secure the resources needed for such development projects,\u201d Bilawal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari also addressed an election rally in the region, calling on people to support the PPP and stressing that the party\u2019s electoral symbol, the arrow, was \u201ca symbol of rights, betterment, power and hope for the poor, and the identity of democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expressing support for her brother\u2019s vision, Aseefa said a PPP-led government would create opportunities for the youth, including quality educational institutions, IT parks, improved internet connectivity and employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want every youth of GB to see a bright future, for everyone to have access to healthcare, and for every child to be educated,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Web desk(National Times)- PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed to address resettlement concerns of those affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on an \u201cimmediate basis\u201d if his party emerges victorious in the June 7 polls. Bilawal made the declaration while addressing a rally in Diamer, as the PPP and other political parties […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nBilawal pledges to address Diamer-Bhasha Dam resettlement issues if PPP wins G-B polls - Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/126941\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bilawal pledges to address Diamer-Bhasha Dam resettlement issues if PPP wins G-B polls - Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Web desk(National Times)- PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed to address resettlement concerns of those affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on an \u201cimmediate basis\u201d if his party emerges victorious in the June 7 polls. 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