By Asim Shahzad
KASUR – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday visited flood-affected areas of Kasur, urging the federal and provincial governments to join hands and deliver maximum relief to victims.
Bilawal was accompanied by former Prime Minister and PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, PPP Central Secretary Information Nadeem Afzal Chan, PPP Labour Bureau In-charge Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, Punjab Secretary General Hassan Murtaza, Secretary Information Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Usman Malik, Chaudhry Aslam Gill, and Tanvir Ashraf Kaira.
Speaking to flood victims, Bilawal said Punjab was bearing the brunt of the disaster, with widespread destruction. He praised the Punjab Chief Minister’s efforts but stressed that “all hands must be on deck” — local government, provincial authorities, and the federal government — to ease the pain of the people.
Recalling past experience, Bilawal noted that when Shehbaz Sharif was Prime Minister, flood-hit families had been supported through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He announced that PPP would once again request the Prime Minister to step in and provide immediate financial aid through BISP.
“Punjab’s farmers have been hit hard,” Bilawal said, calling agriculture the backbone of the economy. He urged the government to declare an agricultural emergency, supply seeds and fertilizers, and give farmers relief in electricity bills and loan repayments.
Bilawal said rebuilding homes and infrastructure would come down the road, after rescue and relief. He demanded that Punjab receive the same support as Sindh, where the federal government is helping rebuild two million houses.
He added that floods had also wreaked havoc in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and their governments, too, would need federal backing. “We will not leave people in the lurch. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with them,” he vowed.
Turning his guns on India, Bilawal accused New Delhi of violating the Indus Waters Treaty by failing to share timely flood data. “India is committing water terrorism, which we will never tolerate,” he declared, vowing to raise the issue at the international level.
Bilawal wrapped up his visit by assuring flood victims that he would personally take their demands to the Prime Minister and push for speedy action.
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