Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated his unwavering commitment to establishing top-tier educational and healthcare facilities in every district of Sindh. He declared that access to quality health and education is a fundamental right for all citizens, not a privilege reserved for a few.
A Promise of Dignity and Justice
Bilawal expressed these views while addressing the 7th Convocation ceremony of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) in Larkana, where he was the chief guest alongside Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. He stated that the university's name represents more than a memory; it is a promise of courage, compassion, and a firm belief in human dignity.
He connected this vision to the legacy of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, stating that for her, healthcare was intrinsically linked to justice. "A society that denies healthcare denies its people their most basic right — the right to live with dignity," he emphasized.
Sindh's Healthcare Transformation Under PPP
Bilawal detailed the significant strides made in Sindh's public health sector following the devolution of powers under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He highlighted several flagship institutions that have become models of excellence.
The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), devolved to the province in 2015, is now a global example in cardiac care. Similarly, the provincial government's partnership with the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has expanded services to districts like Sukkur and Karachi.
He also noted the expansion of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), which now operates four centers in Karachi alone, with pediatric facilities extended to Nawabshah, Jamshoro, Sukkur, and Larkana. Furthermore, through a public-private partnership with the Child Life Foundation, emergency rooms for children have been set up in all districts of Sindh.
Bilawal paid tribute to the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences in Khairpur, established during former CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah's tenure, noting its facilities rival those in major cities.
Educational Expansion and Provincial Responsibility
Turning to education, the PPP Chairman acknowledged room for improvement but outlined historic progress. He recalled that before 1947, Sindh had only one university. From 1947 to 2008, 16 universities were established, but since 2008, the total has risen to 30.
He pointed out that after 2017-18, when the federal government slashed funding for the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Sindh was the sole province that stepped up to continue supporting its universities financially.
The Sindh government's goal is clear: to ensure every district has at least one university campus, or ideally a full-fledged university, to bring higher education and development opportunities to remote and underdeveloped regions.
In his address to the new graduates, Bilawal urged them to never let their education distance them from the plight of the poor, the anxious, or the forgotten. He commended the SMBBMU faculty for shaping not just medical professionals, but individuals of strong character, rooted in the symbolic resistance and service that Larkana represents.
