Bilawal makes passionate plea for climate consciousness

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), made a passionate plea for heightened climate consciousness in government circles and general people alike. 

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press held in Nurpur Noon village in eastern Punjab province on Wednesday, Bilawal disclosed that he was on the verge of stepping down from the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government during his tenure as foreign minister. He said the reason for him considering quitting the government was the absence of climate resilience projects in the federal budget, following the devastating floods that claimed more than 1,700 lives in 2022.

Unprecedented downpours that continued for months wreaked havoc and caused widespread destruction of homes and schools, particularly in Sindh, where thousands of people were left without shelter. Despite the passage of several months after the flooding, certain regions in Pakistan continue to grapple with the aftermath of the climate catastrophe. 

Bilawal revealed that the government was reluctant to include climate projects in the federal budget however, some projects were taken up after his explicit threat to quit. 

The PPP chief, whose party prioritises climate adaptability and resilience in its manifesto, expressed disappointment in the insufficient attention given to climate change in public and political discourse. He urged fellow politicians to take the issue more seriously, highlighting the critical need to communicate the impact of climate change to the Pakistani people.

Reflecting on the post-flood scenario, Bilawal voiced his shock, horror, and fury at the 'callous attitude' of lawmakers for not incorporating climate resilience in the budget. He stressed the urgency of Pakistan investing in climate resilience for its survival, highlighting climate change as an existential threat that could lead to floods and perpetual droughts.

In an election rally in Bhalwal on Wednesday, Bilawal set aside the concerns about pre-poll rigging. He said that such challenges persist in every Pakistani election. He remarked that the challenge in the current elections is the perception that a political party, implicitly referring to Imran Khan's party, is being singly persecuted. 

He accused Khan of attempting to eliminate the opposition during his tenure as prime minister.

Touching on Khan's engagement with Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, Bilawal alleged that this connection led to the rise in militant attacks on Pakistan. 

Responding to a question regarding Iran's recent attack on Pakistani territory, Bilawal expressed his shock, saying he had extensive engagement with the neighbouring country. 

Last week, Iran launched an air strike inside Pakistani territory targeting what it claimed was a militant hideout. Pakistan retaliated less than 48 hours later. 

Bilawal supported Pakistan's response as a message affirming the nation's commitment to its sovereignty. The prompt rejoinder by Pakistan demonstrates that "Pakistan takes its sovereignty very seriously," he asserted.