Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a strong warning on Wednesday. It was against attempts by the federal government to assume control over provincial education and population welfare rights.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a new Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) unit in Karachi, the former foreign minister stated that such a move would be unacceptable.
“There are talks that Islamabad wants to keep the rights of education and population welfare to itself. It will be wrong,” Bilawal stated. He emphasised that any attempt to undermine Sindh’s constitutional rights would meet a firm reaction.
The PPP chairman credited the 18th Constitutional Amendment, passed during the PPP-led federal government in 2010, for a significant improvement in Sindh’s healthcare facilities. He highlighted the visible difference in hospital conditions before and after the devolution of powers from the centre to the provinces. He also vowed to defend these transferred rights.
سندھ میں صحت کی ترقی اٹھارویں ترمیم کا بہترین عملی جواب ہے۔ آج این آئی سی وی ڈی، جے پی ایم سی، این آئی سی ایچ اور ایس آئی یو ٹی جیسے ادارے دل، گردے، جگر، کینسر و دیگر مہنگے ترین علاج بلکل مفت فراہم کر رہے ہیں۔#SIUT #HealthForAll@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/evjhEWLJFW
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 3, 2025Critique of Federal and KP Health Models
Bilawal recalled a past attempt by the centre to “snatch” the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) from the Sindh government during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration. He contrasted this with the provincial government’s success in establishing a network of international-standard hospitals. The network includes SIUT units.
He revealed that a PPP ticket holder from Punjab had contacted him and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. They requested that Sindh’s model of free healthcare be extended to their areas.
The PPP leader also critiqued the health card programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). “The KP government has put the health budget in the health card,” he said, questioning the scheme’s model. He expressed concern that KP’s health system is directing government funds towards private hospitals.
Read: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Warns Against Tampering with 18th Amendment
Bilawal challenged the federal and KP governments to present their 15-year population planning records. He offered to showcase Sindh’s performance in the same period.
This stance follows his warning last week. He asserted that those seeking to undo the 18th Amendment or the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award were “playing with fire.” He had asserted, “If there is any power in any amendment after the 1973 Constitution, it is in the 18th Amendment.”
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے سندھ انسٹی ٹیوٹ آف یورولوجی اینڈ ٹرانسپلانٹیشن (SIUT) ٹرسٹ اسپتال، شارعِ فیصل میں نو تعمیر شدہ ڈاکٹر سید ہارون احمد ڈائیلاسز سینٹر اور زبیدہ مصطفیٰ لیتھوٹرپسی یونٹ کا افتتاح کیا۔
اس موقع پر چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے اسپتال کا… pic.twitter.com/C9FshJmqo9
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 3, 2025The statements underscore the escalating political tension over fiscal and administrative autonomy. The PPP positions itself as the defender of provincial rights secured through the landmark amendment.
