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 (born 21 September 1988) is a Pakistani politician. He was the 37th Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023. He became the leader, or chairman, of the Pakistan People's Party in 2007. This happened after his mother, Benazir Bhutto, was sadly assassinated.
Bilawal was born in Karachi, Pakistan. His family has a long history in politics. He is the son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari. His grandfather was also a former President, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2018 to 2023. He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 2024 Pakistani general election. He took his oath in 2024.
Early Life and Family
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was born in Karachi, Pakistan, on 21 September 1988. His parents were Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari. His maternal grandfather was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a former president and prime minister. His paternal grandfather, Hakim Ali Zardari, was also a politician.
Many of his relatives are involved in politics. This includes his aunts Azra Peechoho and Faryal Talpur.
Bilawal has a mix of family backgrounds. On his mother's side, he has Sindhi and Kurdish roots. On his father's side, he has Baloch roots.
For his early schooling, Bilawal attended schools in Karachi and Islamabad. In 1999, he moved to Dubai with his mother. There, he went to the Rashid School For Boys. Later, he studied at Oxford University in England. He studied Modern History and Politics at Christ Church. He earned his Bachelor of Arts 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 19 years old at the time. He remembered his mother's words, "My mother always said that democracy is the best revenge."
In 2018, the PPP, led by Bilawal, shared its plans for the general elections. This plan was called Bibi ka Waada Nibhaana Hai Pakistan Bachana Hai. Bilawal said the party would focus on helping people escape poverty.
In the 2018 Pakistani general election, the PPP became the largest party in Sindh province. It was 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 the National Assembly
On 13 August 2018, Bilawal became a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. People praised his first speech in parliament. He spoke about important issues like fighting corruption and providing jobs and homes.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
On 27 April 2022, Bilawal became the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He was the youngest person to hold this important position.
As Foreign Minister, he met with leaders from other countries. In May 2022, he talked with China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi. He said that any attack on China would be seen as an attack on Pakistan. In January 2023, he visited Moscow during a difficult economic time for Pakistan.
Political Views and Actions
Supporting Democracy
Bilawal has often spoken against systems that give too much power to one person. He believes that a presidential system is not good for democracy in Pakistan. He has said that all democratic groups will stand against such changes.
Freedom of Speech
Bilawal strongly supports freedom of expression. He has said that limiting media freedom is like living under a dictatorship. He believes that journalists should be free to report without fear. He has also criticized laws that can be used to stop people from speaking freely.
Women's Rights
Bilawal believes in a "peaceful, progressive, prosperous, democratic Pakistan." He says this was his mother's dream. He strongly supports empowering women. He thinks that involving women in all decisions is key to the country's progress.
He has highlighted the importance of educating girls. He has also praised women like Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto who have made a difference. Bilawal has met with women's rights activists and promised his party's support for their cause. He supports the Aurat March, which is a march for women's rights.
Bilawal also wants to end child marriages in Pakistan. The Sindh government, led by his party, made the legal marriage age 18 in that province. He wants this law to apply across the whole country.
Protecting Civil Rights
Bilawal has often defended the rights of minority groups in Pakistan. He has spoken out against attacks on places of worship for Hindus and Ahmadis. He believes in a Pakistan where everyone is treated fairly, no matter their religion.
He has also expressed concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws. He said these laws have been used unfairly against Christians and others. He believes these laws must be prevented from being used to settle personal arguments or take property.
Climate Change
Bilawal has suggested a plan to change Pakistan's economy. This plan would focus on fighting climate change. His party wants to spend 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 Views
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Bilawal has spoken about the Kashmir issue. In 2014, he said he would work to get all of Kashmir back for Pakistan. In 2019, he met with the Kashmir Council in Washington. He promised to speak out against actions by Indian forces in Kashmir. He said he supports the people of Indian-administered Kashmir in their fight for self-determination.
In October 2022, after U.S. President Joe Biden made comments about Pakistan's nuclear weapons, Bilawal asked for an explanation from the U.S. diplomat.
In June 2025, after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, Bilawal spoke about the water issue. He said Pakistan would ensure it gets water from all six rivers if India did not share it fairly.
Fighting Terrorism
Bilawal has said that terrorism is increasing in Pakistan. He believes that democracy can defeat extremism. He sees it as a battle between modern ideas and extreme ones.
He has also criticized the government for not fully putting into action the National Action Plan against terrorism. He has called for the removal of ministers who he believes have links to banned militant groups.
In a 2025 interview, Bilawal suggested that Pakistan could consider handing over certain individuals to India. He said this could help build trust between the two countries. However, he also mentioned legal challenges. His comments caused strong reactions from other political parties in Pakistan.
Personal Views
When asked about his family's political background and if it was unfair, Bilawal famously said, "I didn't choose this life, it chose me." This means he feels his role in politics was something he was born into, rather than a choice he made.
See also
In Spanish: Bilawal Bhutto para niños
