constitutionalism, and equality on which Pakistan was founded. He emphasized that the 1973 Constitution embodies the spirit of the Freedom Movement and provides a unified vision for the nation’s future. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated the PPP’s commitment to advancing the nation’s progress and unity by strengthening democracy in line with the vision of Pakistan’s founding fathers.

In a message issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP stated, “As we celebrate Independence Day, we honor the sacrifices made by our forefathers who fought for our freedom and sovereignty. Today is a day to reflect on the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his democratic ideals. It is also a day to confront our challenges and learn from our past. Despite being founded by a leader who championed constitutionalism and democracy, our nation has faced periods of autocratic rule that undermined basic freedoms and rights.”

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized that the PPP remains committed to the principles and vision of the founding fathers. He remarked, “The ideology of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the philosophy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto serve as guiding lights for us. Under President Asif Ali Zardari’s vision of reconciliation and national unity, we find hope and strength to navigate our challenges.”

He further assured, “The PPP is dedicated to lifting our nation from the grips of inflation, unemployment, and poverty, while continuing the fight against terrorism. Let us unite as one nation, driven by our shared values, to overcome any obstacle and build a brighter future for all Pakistanis.”

As the nation commemorates its 77th Independence Day, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari extended his heartiest wishes to all Pakistanis and called for a renewed commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy, and unity that define the nation’s identity.

First Lady of Pakistan, Aseefa Bhutto  was honored with the Soft Diplomacy Award at a ceremony hosted by the UAE Consulate in Karachi today in commemoration of Pakistan’s Independence Day. The Humanitarian Award was presented in recognition of her tireless efforts in eradicating polio and her successful lobbying of the UAE government to support polio vaccination drives in Balochistan.

Accompanied by President Peoples Party Women’s Wing, Faryal Talpur, who was awarded for her efforts in building relations with the United Arab Emirates. 

Under the initiatives of the UAE Consulate’s Soft Diplomacy program, this award celebrates individuals who have significantly contributed to strengthening diplomatic and humanitarian ties between Pakistan and the UAE. Ms. Bhutto Zardari’s advocacy has been pivotal in securing the UAE’s assistance in one of Pakistan’s most critical public health challenges—the fight against polio.

In her acceptance speech, Ms. Bhutto Zardari expressed her deep gratitude for the recognition and reiterated her unwavering commitment to the cause of polio eradication. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation in health initiatives and praised the UAE government for its steadfast support in the fight against polio in Pakistan, particularly in the vulnerable regions of Balochistan.

Addressing the ongoing battle against polio, she emphasized, “The fight against polio is one that every Pakistani should fight to secure a better, brighter future for our children. It pains me that we are one of the two countries in the world still unable to eradicate this menace. I remain committed to this fight, to a polio-free Pakistan. I must acknowledge that the UAE has stood steadfast in its support for a polio-free Pakistan.”

Ms. Bhutto Zardari also highlighted the strong ties between Pakistan and the UAE, acknowledging the UAE’s consistent support in various crises: “Pakistan has been fortunate to count the UAE as one of its friends, and we have always relied on your support in times of trouble. Be it our fight against polio, devastating earthquakes, or catastrophic floods, you have stood beside us, at the forefront, reminding us that we are not alone.”

She further remarked on the enduring relationship between the two nations, stating, “As the UAE has gone from strength to strength under dynamic leadership, so has our friendship. And many individuals, not least the honorable Consul General here, have worked hard to further and better these bilateral ties. On a personal level, our family’s relationship with the UAE has been an immense source of happiness for us over many years. For me, Dubai remains my second home. I cherish the years spent there and look forward to my visits even now.”

Ms. Bhutto Zardari’s efforts have not only been instrumental in reducing polio cases in Pakistan but have also strengthened the bond between Pakistan and the UAE, showcasing how diplomacy and health initiatives can go hand in hand to achieve common goals.

The event, held at the UAE Consulate Karachi was attended by distinguished guests, diplomats, and representatives from various sectors who have contributed to enhancing Pakistan-UAE relations. First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur also took part in a plantation drive under the Green Pakistan Initiative.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday reiterated that the Pakistan was committed to protection of the rights of minorities and provision of equal opportunities to them to excel in every walk of life as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the celebrations of Minorities’ Day at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said, “Under the Constitution and under the onus of oath my office, I have the duty to protect all rights of the minorities and provide all kind of facilitation”.

He said that the objective behind the observance of Minorities’ Day at the official level was to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by the members of different communities living in Pakistan. 

The president further stressed upon enhancement of jobs opportunities for the minorities in different government’s departments on merit basis besides, increasing the existing jobs quota.

Lauding the role of the minorities in the national progress and prosperity, he said that they were the equal citizens of Pakistan and future builders of the nation.

Stressing upon the significance of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision, the president said they were required to fully emulate his message aimed at fostering unity, brotherhood and religious tolerance in society.

The event arranged by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was attended by members of parliament, ulema, religious leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, media and representatives from different minorities.

Comparing the current situation in India, the president said “Modi’s India is not a safe haven for the minorities,” and lauded Quaid’s farsightedness and leadership who had realized the future fate of minorities in India.

President Zardari said the people of Pakistan always felt the pains of sufferings of humanity and for those lying lowly in society and accorded due respect and space to all the minorities living here because such a message of human consideration had been embedded in their religion and culture.

He also recited a verse of famous Sindhi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, in this regard to emphasize his point of view.

While recollecting the events of Pakistan Movement, he said that his father in his youth took active part for the creation of Pakistan. 

President Zardari referring to the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, said that atrocious and indiscriminate strikes were targeting all Palestinians and people from different faiths.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain felicitated the minorities on the observance of national day and said that all communities living in the country enjoyed religious freedom and were bonded with affection, tolerance, peace and brotherhood.

He underlined that they were ought to spread this message across the globe.

Citing different constitutional articles, he said minorities’ rights had been guaranteed under the constitutional provisions, besides the Islamic teachings had also laid emphasis upon such rights. 

Archbishop Rawalpindi and Islamabad Dr Joseph Arshad, Haroon Sarb Diyal representative of Hindu community, Sardar Gurpal Singh representative of Sikh community, Dr Seema Farzad representative of Bahai community and Isphandyar M. Bhandra, a member of National Assembly and representative of Parsi community, also expressed their views on the occasion.

The appreciated the government’s steps for the protection of their rights, welfare and well beings, besides according them equal opportunities in different walks of life.

They said nation’s founder Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his historic speech of August 11, 1947 had stressed upon the religious freedom and rights of all communities.

The speakers also lauded the president for the observance of Minorities’ Day at the national level and the recent signing of Christian Marriage Act 

Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and fostering the development and empowerment of minorities in Pakistan. He emphasized that the PPP will never compromise on these core principles.

In a statement issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP, on the occasion of National Minorities Day, underscored his party’s long-standing dedication to championing minority rights. He highlighted that the consensus Constitution of 1973, a testament to the political vision of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, guarantees equal rights, religious freedoms, and protections for all citizens of Pakistan. “My mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, envisioned a Pakistan where people of all faiths could coexist in harmony and with dignity,” he added.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also noted that the observance of National Minorities Day was instituted by President Asif Ali Zardari during his first tenure, with the aim of recognizing the vital role of minorities in the nation’s fabric and promoting tolerance and harmony in society. “Our nation’s diversity is our greatest strength, and it is our collective duty to ensure that every citizen, irrespective of their faith or background, enjoys equal rights and opportunities,” he added. 

He urged all Pakistanis to unite in the fight against discrimination and intolerance. “As we observe National Minorities Day, let us renew our pledge to build a Pakistan that truly embodies the principles of justice, equality, and tolerance. Together, we can create a nation where every individual, regardless of religion or ethnicity, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our country’s prosperity,” Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari concluded.

The PPP HR Cell commemorated Minority Day with a special event hosted at the Central Secretariat. The gathering was graced by esteemed leaders, including President HR Cell Farhatullah Babar, General Secretary Malaika Raza, incharge central secretariat Syed Sibte Bukhari, members Human Rights cell and prominent Minority leaders.

During the event, General Secretary Malaika Raza reiterated the PPP’s steadfast support for minority rights and its commitment to ensuring their representation in both the parliament and local government. The party has consistently championed the rights of minorities and remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and tolerant society.

President Farhatullah Babar called upon the government to reinstate the Minority Commission and bolster safeguard mechanisms to protect minority communities effectively.

The event provided a platform to address crucial issues affecting minority groups, underscoring the party’s unwavering dedication to advancing diversity, equality, and social justice for all.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his address to the National Assembly on Friday congratulated Olympic champion, Arshad Nadeem on his victory. He said that Arshad made history by creating a new Olympic record and bringing home the gold medal for Pakistan. This is proof that the Pakistani youth, when given the opportunity, emerge victorious. 

Chairman Bilawal called for consensus in the House over supporting youth in Pakistan, as they are capable of achieving such accolades. In Lyari alone, every other youngster is capable of bringing home the FIFA World Cup due to the influx of talent. Chairman PPP said that recently, he met young girls in Peshawar who are competing in Taekwondo from D I Khan and bringing medals for Pakistan. It is unfortunate that neither the federal government nor the provincial government provided the necessary support. In the next Olympics, every province of Pakistan should win a medal, Chairman PPP resolved while advising the Federal Minister for Sports to establish an endowment fund in collaboration with all provincial ministers for this purpose. 

Chairman Bilawal said that the talents of the Pakistani youth, and the skills of the labour have turned vast deserts such as the Middle East into major cities. There is every possible resource available within Pakistan. Islamabad was made only to serve the people of the country. These buildings house the biggest institutions of the country. There is the presence of an entire battalion of bureaucracy in the country along with all the politicians and other powerful entities. However, ever since this city was made, we have never fulfilled the purpose for what it was created. We begin concocting conspiracies and fighting amongst one another. We keep bearing losses due to the infighting between politicians and the adventurism of the military generals. The politics of hate and division is at the peak, with unprecedented polarisation. 

We are witnessing a plethora of crises, and have not been able to effectively address issues such as inflation and worsening law and order, Chairman Bilawal said. We are not even able to form the bare minimum consensus on protecting the country from terrorism. We are hurling insults at each other on the television. We would have to devise a way to compete with each other within political domains. We have to resolve the issues faced by the people. The political workers are closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh, Chairman Bilawal said while citing an example. The protests that erupted there were over a quota for the martyrs of their Army. The quota had been removed by Sheikh Haseena Wajid herself in 2018 but was restored by the court. The protests could not be stopped and Hasina Wajid had to leave her post. The entire region should learn from this and address the real issues of the people. 

Chairman Bilawal said that the crisis of the month is the distance between institutions. This is being created by the continuous interference of an institution with this institution (Parliament). The history of the judiciary is before the entire country. Our judiciary has also broken world records. Pakistan’s judiciary is so capable that it not only runs the court but also builds dams. The judiciary can even combat inflation and set the prices of tomatoes and samosas. No judiciary in the world can compete with our judiciary. Chairman Bilawal said that the citizens of the country still await justice. We are thankful to the judiciary to have given us justice after a three-generation long struggle on our end, that began with Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s martyrdom. They admitted that he was not given a fair trial, but they could not take any clear step to right this wrong. 

In Pakistan currently, a storm in a teacup is being transformed into a full-blown constitutional crisis, Chairman PPP said. Not me, not the Speaker, not the members, PM or the Parliament but the judiciary itself is responsible for this crisis. This is a crisis of the judiciary, by the judiciary and for the judiciary. The Leader of the Opposition should be asked whether it was us who snatched their symbol. It was the court that stated that their internal elections were rigged which is why they could not get a symbol and would not be considered a political party. This last-minute decision benefitted a dead political party, with no election campaign, which mobilised it. It is now being said that this was not the intention. A decision then was made to distribute the seats amongst them as if they are candy. 

As long as this country does not adopt the Constitution, law and a democratic demeanour, and its institutions not work within their boundaries, the purpose behind building this city and our presence here would remain futile. Our only advice would be for political discourse to take place to reclaim the space of politicians sans the political hatred and division.

President Asif Ali Zardari has underlined the need for discouraging the spread of fake news and disinformation by promoting a culture of fact-checking and verifying information. He said that the media should uphold the highest standards of journalism and play its role in promoting tolerance, unity and ethical values in the society.

The President expressed these views while talking to Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Mr Muhammad Saleem, who called on him and presented PEMRA Report 2021-23, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

Talking to Chairman PEMRA, the President said that modern communication technologies had opened up new challenges and the media needed to play a responsible and constructive role in shaping public opinion. He said that a code of conduct regarding the spread of misinformation and propaganda should be observed.

The President stressed the need to improve the capacity of PEMRA by adopting modern tools and technologies and building a pool of talented human resources. He remarked that the media should also raise awareness about socio-economic issues, besides promoting a soft image of the country.

Chairman PEMRA briefed the President about the role and performance of PEMRA in the regulation and development of the media landscape of the country.

The President affirmed his support to further strengthen PEMRA.

The First Lady of Pakistan and Member of the National Assembly, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, visited the family of late Nazir Hussain Dhoki, a dedicated and loyal party worker who served the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its leadership throughout his life. Nazir Dhoki, who was the Chief Media Coordinator for Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, passed away on July 14 after a short battle with cancer at the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences in Khairpur District. Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari prayed for his departed soul and for his high rank in Jannah.

Speaking with Nazir Dhoki’s family, the First Lady paid rich tributes to a party worker who made significant sacrifices during the dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq and was imprisoned during the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy. She emphasized that Nazir Dhoki was one of the most committed activists of the party, whose loyalty to the Bhutto family was unparalleled. His dedication and steadfastness served as an inspiration to other party members. The First Lady assured the family that the party leadership would continue to stand by them and provide support during these challenging times. Nazir Dhoki’s family expressed their gratitude to the First Lady for her support during this difficult period.

Accompanying the First Lady were Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Mir Munawar Talpur MNA, Chief Whip of PPP in the National Assembly Ijaz Jakhrani MNA, Central Information Secretary of PPPP Shazia Marri MNA, Shehla Raza MNA, and Mehreen Bhutto MNA.

According to a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP has instructed the concerned minister to utilize all available resources to promptly repair the breach and minimize the damage.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized that the Minister of Irrigation must ensure that such incidents do not occur again during the rains. He also directed that the residents of the affected villages be relocated to safe areas and that an assessment of the damage to agricultural crops due to the breach be conducted.

Furthermore, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the PPP office-bearers and workers in Sanghar district to actively assist the affected people and provide necessary aid.