Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the issue of Balochistan must be resolved through political, not military, means.

Speaking to the media in Karachi on Thursday, the PPP chairman stated that the grievances of the people of Balochistan needed to be resolved, adding that the issue of terrorism is the biggest problem faced by the people.

Bilawal emphasised that the solution to the Balochistan issue is political and that decisions must be made through political consensus to benefit the people.

He also noted that Pakistan has been successful in the past in the war against terrorism.

Referring to recent floods, the PPP chairman said that many districts in Punjab suffered massive damage, with south Punjab being the hardest hit.

He also noted significant damage in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to cloudburst and flooding, and called on the federal government to provide assistance through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Bilawal maintained that the BISP is the only programme capable of providing immediate relief to the affected people.

He noted that during the elections, the PML-N had fully endorsed the Benazir Income Support Programme, but now they have taken a U-turn, and questioned them about this change.

He stated that if a timely international appeal for assistance had been made, more help could have been provided to the victims, and asked why this was not happening, placing the blame on the federal government.

The PPP chairman said that the federal government, due to ego or some other reason, refuses to acknowledge the need for this.

Bilawal also called for holding talks with the IMF regarding a support price for wheat. He stated that in Sindh, wheat farmers will be supported through the “Hari Card” to avoid the need for wheat imports.

He highlighted the struggles faced by the agricultural sector across the country, which has been severely impacted by the floods.

Bilawal also warned that food security issues might arise after floods, and thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for declaring an agricultural emergency and for waiving electricity bills in the affected areas.

Bilawal said that the effects of the flood are still ongoing and that Punjab has experienced historical losses.

Pointing out that many areas in Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur are still submerged, Bilawal emphasised that the responsibility of extending help during a natural disaster does not rest solely with one government, and that the federal government must play a leading role in disaster relief.

Regarding the defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, Bilawal noted that it was widely appreciated across Pakistan. He added that there would be an in-camera briefing about the agreement.