Bilawal Bhutto Zardari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
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| بلاول بھٹو زرداری | |
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Bilawal in 2022
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| Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party | |
| Assumed office 30 December 2007 |
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| Deputy | Asif Ali Zardari (Co Chairperson) |
| Preceded by | Benazir Bhutto |
| 37th Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 27 April 2022 – 10 August 2023 |
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| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Shahbaz Sharif |
| Deputy | Hina Rabbani Khar (as Minister of State) |
| Preceded by | Shah Mahmood Qureshi |
| Succeeded by | Jalil Abbas Jilani |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 29 February 2024 |
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| Constituency | NA-194 Larkana-I |
| Majority | 135,112 votes |
| In office 13 August 2018 – 10 August 2023 |
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| Constituency | NA-200 Larkana |
| Majority | 34,226 (22.46%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
21 September 1988 Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Political party | Pakistan People's Party |
| Parents | Asif Ali Zardari Benazir Bhutto |
| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
| Occupation | Politician |
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (Urdu: بلاول بھٹو زرداری; Sindhi: بلاول ڀٽو زرداري; born 21 September 1988) is a Pakistani politician. He served as the 37th Minister of Foreign Affairs from April 2022 to August 2023. He became the chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in 2007. This happened after his mother, Benazir Bhutto, passed away.
Bilawal comes from the Bhutto family, a well-known political family in Pakistan. He is the son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari. His grandfather was former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Bilawal was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2018 to 2023. He was re-elected to the National Assembly in February 2024.
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Early Life and Family
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, on 21 September 1988. His parents were Benazir Bhutto, a former Prime Minister, and Asif Ali Zardari, a former President. His maternal grandfather was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was also a former President and Prime Minister. His paternal grandfather, Hakim Ali Zardari, was a politician too.
Bilawal attended Karachi Grammar School and Froebel's International School in Pakistan. In 1999, he moved to Dubai with his mother and studied at the Rashid School For Boys. For his higher education, he went to Oxford University in England. He studied Modern History and Politics at Christ Church and earned his degree in 2012.
Political Career
Leading the Pakistan People's Party
Bilawal became the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on 30 December 2007. He was only 19 years old at the time. He took on this important role after his mother's death.
In 2018, the PPP, under Bilawal's leadership, was the first party to share its plans for the general elections. This plan was called Bibi ka Waada Nibhaana Hai Pakistan Bachana Hai, which means "We have to fulfill Benazir's promise and save Pakistan." Bilawal said the party would focus on helping people escape poverty.
In the Pakistan general elections held on 25 July 2018, the PPP became the largest party in Sindh province. It was also the third-largest party in all of Pakistan. The party won 43 seats in the National Assembly. Bilawal won a seat from Larkana.
Member of Parliament
On 13 August 2018, Bilawal became a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Many people praised his first speech in parliament. In his speech, he asked the then-Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to work on fighting corruption. He also asked him to solve the water crisis and create jobs and homes for people.
Human Rights Committee
On 5 March 2019, Bilawal was chosen to be the chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee for Human Rights. This committee works on laws and issues related to human rights.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
On 27 April 2022, Bilawal became the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He was the youngest person to hold this position. President Arif Alvi gave him his oath of office.
As Foreign Minister, he met with leaders from other countries. On 21 May 2022, he talked with China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to strengthen the friendship between Pakistan and China. He also visited Moscow in January 2023.
Political Views and Activism
Supporting Democracy
Bilawal has often spoken against systems that give too much power to one person, like a presidential system. He believes that a parliamentary system, where power is shared, is better for democracy in Pakistan. He has said that such systems have not worked well in other places.
Freedom of Speech
Bilawal strongly believes in freedom of expression. He has said that stopping media freedom is like living under a dictatorship. He spoke on World Press Freedom Day about how journalists face threats. He believes that the right to speak freely is very important for all other rights.
Women's Rights
Bilawal is a strong supporter of women's empowerment. He believes that Pakistan can only progress if women are involved in all important matters. He has said that a bright future depends on empowering girls. He has praised women like Fatima Jinnah and his mother, Benazir Bhutto, for their contributions.
He has also supported ending child marriages in Pakistan. The Sindh government, led by his party, made the legal marriage age 18 in that province. Bilawal wants this law to be applied across the whole country.
Rights for Everyone
Bilawal has always defended the rights of minority groups in Pakistan. He has spoken out against attacks on places of worship for Hindus and Ahmadis. He believes that Pakistan should be a place where everyone can live peacefully, no matter their religion.
He has also expressed concerns about the misuse of certain laws. He believes these laws should not be used to harm or accuse innocent people.
Climate Change
Bilawal has suggested a plan to change Pakistan's economic approach. He wants to focus on fighting climate change. His party's plan aims to use a lot of money to deal with climate change. This is especially important after the severe 2022 Pakistan floods that affected millions of people.
Foreign Policy
Bilawal has spoken about the Kashmir issue. He has said that Kashmir belongs to Pakistan. He has met with the Kashmir Council in Washington to show support for the people of Kashmir. He has promised to speak up against any unfair treatment of Kashmiris.
In 2022, when U.S. President Joe Biden made comments about Pakistan's nuclear weapons, Bilawal responded. He called the American diplomat to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask for an explanation.
Fighting Extremism
Bilawal has said that there is a growing problem with extremism in Pakistan. He believes that democracy can overcome extremism. He has also pushed for the government to fully carry out the National Action Plan. This plan aims to bring peace and stability to the nation.
Personal Views
When asked about being part of a political family, Bilawal once said, "I didn't choose this life, it chose me." This means he feels his path in politics was set for him because of his family's history.
Images for kids
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Foreign Minister Bilawal meeting with U.S. diplomats in 2022.
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Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Dmytro Kuleba at the Munich Security Conference in 2023.
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See also
In Spanish: Bilawal Bhutto para niños
