It is said that adversities and tragedies can either make people or break them. For those who have a more important goal in life, tragedies offer the necessary life lessons, allowing them to build the necessary resilience to prevent the history from repeating themselves. The president of the Pakistani peoples party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is one of those leaders who has become a headlight of hope and pragmatism in Pakistani politics, despite his tumultuous history.
Having lost his mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, at the age of 19, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made a name for himself by promoting political stability and avoiding conflicts with opponents – while ensuring that the national space is not conceded.
In December 2021, President Bilawal galvanized the opposition parties of the time against the government of Imran Khan, launched a motion of non-confidence and successfully replaced the government by constitutional means in April 2022. He subsequently joined the government of the coalition as Minister of Foreign Affairs. As a young Minister of Foreign Affairs, he worked tirelessly to defuse the diplomatic and economic crises inherited from the previous administration. Under its direction, Pakistan avoided the fields of economic and diplomatic mines which are obvious three years later.
During its mandate, Pakistan brought the weight of climate change, and Bilawal became the voice of the country on the world scene, pleading for climate justice and stressing how the Pakistanis are victims of the carbon footprint of the developed world. This led to the international conference on Pakistan resilient in the climate in Geneva, co-organized by the UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres. Mr. Guterres, recognizing our fate, said: “No country deserves to bear what happened in Pakistan.”
During this important event, Pakistan managed to obtain international funding, Bilawal committing to transforming the challenge of recovery and reconstruction into an opportunity to build a more resilient Pakistan. Thanks to tangible actions, Bilawal has shown that it was going through the government to speak in Sindh province built 2.1 million houses for people affected by floods, of which 600,000 people have already been built.
Since its parliamentary beginnings in 2018, his state -like approach and focused on states has not only defined his political character, but has also paved the way for unity, progress and democratic resilience. The PPP leading the provinces of Sindh and Balutchistan and playing a conscientious role in Parliament, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has helped stabilize and strengthen the democratic system. The adoption of the 26th amendment in October 2024 is a brilliant example of its visionary leadership, guaranteeing clashes and legal limits. I am personally witness to his patience, his perseverance and his foresight in the construction of a political consensus for the passage of the amendment.
Bilawal has always shown that age is only a number with regard to political sagacity. His remarkable maturity and his nuanced understanding of the complex challenges of Pakistan distinguish him. His style of leadership reflects a deep commitment to democratic principles and inclusive governance, which distinguishes it in a polarized and often hostile political landscape.
During the recent war situation with India, Bilawal has again advanced to articulate Pakistan’s position internationally, exposing Indian propaganda. His diplomatic commitment has helped improve the global image of Pakistan and underlined his vision of a more connected and cooperative Pakistan.
At the United Nations, Bilawal called on the international community to put pressure on India for a complete dialogue with Pakistan. He warned that the recent military climbing had increased the risk of conflict and underlined the urgency to solve the problem of unresolved cashmere, which is at the heart of Indo-Pake tensions. Despite the increase in hostilities, Bilawal reiterated Pakistan’s desire to cooperate with India in the fight against terrorism.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his visit to India in May 2023 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO), he again underlined the resolution of the cashmere dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. He also discussed the regional threats of extremism and terrorism, calling for collective action without political bias.
It is often said that history is repeated. Like Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto presented the case of Pakistan in the world, even when they held no official office, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari now follows their traces. Its approach to type of state is precisely what Pakistan and the region in the broad sense: disseminating tensions and presenting a united, dignified and constructive image of Pakistan, opening the way to long -term economic and political stability.
The writer is mayor of Karach
