Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, once again expressed his frustration over the slow internet and criticized the lack of understanding among decision-makers in Islamabad.
He emphasized the need to fight for a digital rights bill, stating that fast Internet access is a fundamental right for every citizen and that data privacy must be protected.
While addressing the convocation ceremony at IBA Sukkur, Bilal remarked, “The elder sitting in Islamabad neither understand the Internet nor use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram. How could they possibly know what these are?”
Bilawal harshly criticized the slow Internet and VPN restrictions, stating that such issues highlight a lack of modern governance.
He praised IBS Sukkur as an institution of international repute and congratulated graduating students. He urged young people to provide him with suggestions for a digital Bill of Rights and to fight for their digital rights actively.
Bilawal also shared his family’s long-standing connection to education, mentioning that his late mother, Benazir Bhutto, established educational institutions during her tenure. He added that children from across the country come to Sindh to pursue their studies, demonstrating the promise of commitment to education.
“Education is a weapon no one can take away from you,” said Bilawal. He encouraged students to utilize the power of education for national development.
Bilawal stressed that with better internet, youth in remote Pakistani villages or anywhere in the world can connect to the global community. He emphasized the need to first explain the importance of digital rights to the “elders” in Islamabad and then challenge their outdated views.
Bilawal also highlighted the challenges posed by climate change, criticizing the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for its lack of planning in this regard.
He stated that future projects, whether roads, houses, or electricity plans, must be aligned with climate change mitigation strategies.
Pakistan ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable countries to climate risks, needs to develop proactive climate policies and advocate for global action to curb carbon emissions.
