Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Heir to Pakistan's most powerful political dynasty, he shouldered its leadership as a young man after his mother's assassination and later became the country's youngest foreign minister.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Pakistani politician·Birthday: September 21·Millennials
Biography
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was thrust into the heart of Pakistani politics by tragedy. The son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, he was studying at Oxford when his mother was assassinated in 2007. At just 19, he was named the ceremonial chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), a symbolic move to hold the grieving party together under his father's practical leadership. He spent years being groomed for the role, completing his education and gradually stepping into the public eye. His political apprenticeship was long, marked by the PPP's time in opposition and the complex shadow of his family's legacy, which mixes adoration with controversy. In 2022, following a vote of no confidence, he was appointed Foreign Minister in a coalition government, becoming one of the youngest individuals to hold the post and navigating a tense period in Pakistan's international relations.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bilawal was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bilawal Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Bilawal's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the 37th Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan from April 2022 to August 2023.
- Assumed the chairmanship of the Pakistan People's Party in December 2007 following his mother's death.
- Was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time in 2018.
- Led the PPP's election campaign in 2024, securing the largest number of seats for his party.
Did You Know?
His first name, Bilawal, means 'one who is brave' in Sindhi.
He is a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied History and Politics.
He is fluent in English, Urdu, and Sindhi.
His grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and his mother, Benazir Bhutto, both served as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
“Democracy is the best revenge.”
