JAMSHORO: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari emphasised the urgent need for action to combat climate change and prepare for potential floods during his address at the Sindh University convocation.

Calling climate change the "biggest problem" facing the world, Bilawal highlighted the severe risks it poses to future generations. He pointed out that Sindh had already witnessed the catastrophic impact of climate change in 2022, when the region was devastated by flash floods.

The Sindh government's report revealed that the 2022 floods claimed over 678 lives, displaced 6.8 million people, and destroyed more than 1.6 million homes. In addition, 3.5 million acres of crops were ruined, and 216,683 animals perished.

Bilawal stressed the need for immediate preparations to mitigate the impact of such disasters in the future. He also criticised prolonged power outages, outdated energy generation methods, and the reliance on electricity imports, urging the country to utilise its natural resources more effectively."

God has blessed us with the world's biggest coalmine," he said, referring to Sindh's Thar coalfield, one of the largest in the world. The field holds 185 billion tonnes of lignite coal, enough to generate power for over two centuries, which he believes could provide cheaper electricity and help address climate change challenges.

Additionally, Bilawal also addressed the issue of internet censorship, saying it must be resolved urgently, emphasising the importance of digital freedom. "Our infrastructure used to be roads, highways, and motorways," he remarked, adding, "In today's age, I believe it's our bandwidth, our fibre optic cable, our wireless internet services."

PPP has strongly criticised the country's internet slowdowns and restrictions, describing them as a deliberate effort to control and censor citizens, he added.He further stated that, just as in the past, attempts are being made to control and censor the people by restricting internet access, pointing out that this is an indication of the government's fear of citizens exercising their rights online.

Bilawal also condemned the ban on student unions, describing it as another example of the state's attempt to suppress the youth. "This is proof that you are strong and they fear you because they do not want you to exercise your rights through the internet," he said.

The PPP chairman urged the youth to fight for their rights and push for awareness on issues of digital freedom. He called for the creation of a "digital bill of rights," insisting that it should be written by students and youth, not by the older politicians in Islamabad.

"It must be written by the students and youth to make their rights known, not by old politicians in Islamabad who do not understand the internet because they do not use it," he asserted.

Bilawal asserted that, in today's world, "affordable and equitable access" to high-speed internet should be considered a "fundamental human right." He also highlighted the need for strict protocols to combat misinformation and ensure online safety.

He encouraged students to share their ideas and suggestions for a digital bill of rights, stating, "Please, send suggestions and pointers to me."

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 24 2024

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