Bilawal says provinces to share defence burden under three-year arrangement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said the federal government and provinces had agreed to jointly share the burden of “unusual national necessities”, including defence requirements, under a three-year financial arrangement.

Speaking during the National Assembly budget session, Bilawal said the provinces had agreed to contribute their share for the country’s defence while their allocation under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award would remain protected.

He said the Centre had assured the provinces that no additional financial contribution or sacrifice would be sought beyond the agreed three-year arrangement.

“The provincial governments have made sacrifices time and again and are continuing to do so in the national interest,” Bilawal said, adding that several issues had been resolved through constitutional means in coordination with the federal government.

The PPP chairman said both the federation and the provinces were facing serious financial challenges, adding that despite the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the provinces had yet to receive their full due share.

He warned that tax relief for the merged tribal districts would expire in 2026 while terrorism continued to impose heavy costs on the country, stressing that the situation required collective responsibility and a unified national response.

Bilawal welcomed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to contribute in the national interest despite political differences and appreciated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s stance on the issue, saying it reflected a willingness to prioritise national interests over politics.

He urged policymakers to introduce projects capable of strengthening the national economy through sustainable growth, warning that Pakistan’s financial model remained heavily dependent on borrowing.

“We take loans to pay back loans,” he said, adding that development should not remain confined to major urban centres.

Referring to the recent US-Iran peace initiative facilitated by Pakistan, Bilawal congratulated President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their diplomatic efforts and paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and the armed forces for their role in promoting regional peace.

He described the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding as a historic development and expressed hope that continued dialogue would lead to lasting peace and stability.

“Whenever peace prevails, nations progress,” Bilawal said, while warning that certain elements were attempting to undermine regional stability. He also referred to India’s Operation Sindoor, saying such developments could threaten ongoing peace efforts.

The PPP chairman strongly defended the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), calling criticism of the welfare initiative “regrettable and shameful”. He said the programme had earned international recognition for supporting vulnerable communities and welcomed the prime minister’s assurance that the government would continue to strengthen and expand it.

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Bilawal said Pakistan could not achieve meaningful progress unless underprivileged sections of society also advanced, reaffirming his party’s commitment to protecting the programme.

Commenting on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Bilawal urged protesters to end their agitation and pursue dialogue, saying continued unrest would only deepen instability.

He said the government remained open to negotiations but stressed that issues such as migrant representation could only be resolved through constitutional, legislative and democratic processes rather than pressure tactics.

Bilawal added that an agreement with the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee was around 80 per cent complete, but one remaining demand had become contentious under the current circumstances.

He emphasised that migrant seats could not be compromised and said all stakeholders, including the Muslim Conference and other political parties, must be consulted to reach a consensus.

Referring to the recent Gilgit-Baltistan elections, Bilawal said the people of the region had once again placed their trust in the PPP by awarding the party 11 seats, describing the result as a clear public mandate.