Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said the development of Gilgit-Baltistan depends on decisions made in Islamabad [1].
The statement highlights a tension between federal control and regional autonomy in a strategically significant area of Pakistan. By calling for local empowerment, the PPP leader is addressing the gap between central governance and the needs of the region's population.
Speaking June 1, 2026 [2], Zardari said that true progress in Gilgit-Baltistan requires a shift in how authority is exercised. He said that decisions affecting the region should be made by its people rather than by federal officials in Islamabad [3].
Zardari said that while the support of the federal capital remains essential for development, the current top-down approach is insufficient. He said that the local population be given the power to determine their own future, a move he believes is necessary for sustainable growth [1].
This call for empowerment focuses on the belief that those living in Gilgit-Baltistan possess the best understanding of the region's specific challenges. Zardari said that the reliance on Islamabad for every major decision hinders the region's ability to evolve and prosper [1].
The PPP chairman's remarks emphasize the need for a governance model that balances national oversight with local agency. He said that the region's trajectory should be shaped by the people who inhabit the land rather than officials stationed in the capital [3].
“Decisions affecting the region should be made by its people rather than by federal officials in Islamabad.”
This push for local empowerment reflects a broader political effort to address long-standing grievances regarding the administrative status of Gilgit-Baltistan. By acknowledging that Islamabad holds the keys to development while simultaneously demanding local autonomy, Zardari is navigating the complex balance between federal stability and regional self-determination.
