LARKANA: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has criticised closure of PIA’s offices in Larkana and termed it “height of discriminatory treatment towards the people of Larkana”.

In a statement, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said it appeared that rulers had not heaved a sigh of relief even after “victimising” the PPP leadership. He said closure of the PIA offices in Larkana was tantamount to punishing the Larkana people for their love and loyalty with the PPP.

“The puppet government is beating the drums of promoting tourism but at the same time it is depriving tourists of vital facilities to visit the world-famous archaeological site [Moenjodaro] in this district,” he argued.

He advised the prime minister to stop sowing the seeds of deprivation through his government’s “discriminatory” policies as the nation was still suffering from the wounds inflicted by former dictators and their puppets.

The PPP chairman also told the ruling party to “stop creating two Pakistans” within the country. He called for immediate reversal of the decision of PIA offices’ closure, pointing out that they had been operating in Larkana for 40 years.

The PIA, announcing closure of its offices in Larkana citing heavy losses, has asked the staff to report to the general manager (HR) in Karachi.

It had established the offices to facilitate tourists coming here to visit Moenjodaro, where an airport was built by former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2019