KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called for the federal government to waive electricity bills for farmers and flood victims in Punjab, as he visited the flood-affected regions on Monday.
In Muzaffargarh, Bilawal stressed the need for an agricultural emergency to support farmers devastated by the ongoing floods. He also recommended that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif use the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to provide financial assistance to flood victims. Bilawal pointed out that BISP had been effectively used during previous crises, including the 2022 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, to offer monetary help.
The PPP leader also urged the Foreign Office to secure international aid, calling on UN agencies operating in Pakistan to contribute to relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Additionally, Bilawal called for political unity, urging all parties to set aside their differences and join forces to tackle the current crisis. However, when questioned by reporters about the shortage of boats, life jackets, and flood camps, he did not provide specific solutions, only stating that the state was doing its best in the face of this unprecedented disaster.
The recent floods have claimed over 900 lives, devastated crops, and displaced thousands across Punjab and Sindh. Water inflows in the Indus River are expected to rise, with high flows forecast at the Guddu barrage in the coming days.
