Bilawal to table bill for digital rights

SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday once again emphasised the urgency of addressing climate change on a “war footing” basis to secure the future of Pakistan’s next generations.

Highlighting the need for new legislation to ensure equitable and unrestricted internet access for sustainable development, he vowed to introduce a bill in Parliament for digital rights. He also stressed aligning the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) with modern requirements by prioritising youth perspectives in its formulation.

Addressing a convocation at University of Sindh in Jamshoro, Bilawal pointed out that over 65 percent of the country’s population comprises young people. Addressing the students, he said, “You are the future of this country.”

On the challenges faced by the youth, he remarked that development budgets and key decisions are made by individuals aged 60 years or above who rarely think about the future of the youth.

Discussing the importance of the internet in today’s era, the PPP chairman said that fiber-optic cables and robust internet infrastructure are the future for both current and upcoming generations. He asserted that affordable and uninterrupted internet access is a fundamental right in the modern world. Criticising censorship, he noted, “Even today, there is fear that the public might raise their voices through the internet.”

He further pointed out that senior officials in Islamabad do not fully understand the internet because they don’t use it themselves, and decisions to block or slow down internet services disproportionately affect the youth. “We must fight for our digital rights as part of our democratic rights, and we will continue this struggle,” he affirmed.

Bilawal highlighted that students have always played a central role in historic struggles for public rights, including under the leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. “This is why student unions remain banned to this day, as they fear the power of students,” he added.

Urging the youth to support the enactment of a Digital Rights Bill, he vowed to visit educational institutions across the country to garner student support for this legislation. “I will present a Digital Bill written by us, for us, in the National Assembly as your representative. Share your suggestions with me on Instagram, Facebook, and X,” he urged.

The PPP chairman also spoke at length about climate change, declaring it the biggest issue facing both the world and Pakistan’s future generations. He warned that melting glaciers in the Himalayas, which have provided water through the Indus River for centuries, could lead to devastating floods for future generations.

“Pakistan is unprepared for the threats posed by climate change,” he stated, calling on students to prepare for a united response from Gilgit-Baltistan to the end of the Indus River. HE stressed the need for green infrastructure in Pakistan. “Before planning six to seven new canals, attention must be paid to climate-resilient infrastructure. Railways, airports, motorways, and highways already exist, but today we need green infrastructure,” he remarked.

He questioned why the country continues to rely on expensive electricity rather than focusing on alternative, eco-friendly energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. He criticised the government’s failure to provide electricity despite claims of surplus supply. “They say load-shedding has ended, but if they visit Sindh, we can show them that load-shedding continues. How can this be justified when surplus electricity is supposedly available?” he questioned.

Bilawal pointed out that while the Constitution guarantees a clean environment as a fundamental right, little has been done to achieve this goal. He expressed hope that when today’s youth step into decision-making roles, this situation will change. “We can tackle climate change and build a cleaner, greener Pakistan together,” he concluded.

He congratulated students receiving their degrees and extended his best wishes for their future. He emphasised that education is the greatest gift parents can give, describing it as an asset that cannot be taken away. “Property, money, and other resources are nothing compared to knowledge,” he remarked. During the ceremony, Bilawal distributed medals and certificates among the students. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also present on the occasion.