The debate for more provinces
Creating a new province is not easy in Pakistan. It means getting the provincial assembly to agree and then parliament at the centre has to vote by a two-thirds majority to suitably amend the Constitution. Since it was the PPP that stewarded the 1973 Constitution, we wonder why it felt wedded to just four federal units, defying the federal principle of devolution. It is appropriate that it should now make an addition in its manifesto and try and catch up with the world wide trend of decentralisation as a condition of democracy. Punjab’s dominance has troubled national politics and created misgivings, if not hatred, in the smaller provinces. The ‘liberation’ uprising in Balochistan these days is based on that feeling.
The intent at creation was dubious and was focused on centralisation of authority. That is probably why the creation of new provinces was made so tough. In India, Nehru, wedded to centralisation when opposing the confederation-based Cabinet Mission Plan, was determined to create more provinces after 1947. India started with 14 provinces; it now has 28. India’s constitutional procedure for creating new provinces is simple. All that is required is a simple majority in parliament on a reference made by the president after ascertaining the views of the concerned provincial assembly.
Any outsider looking at Pakistan is immediately struck by the fact that is has just four provinces, with 60 per cent of the population in Punjab. Punjab dominates the federation and the PML-N doesn’t need to become a national party to come to power and be able to amend the Constitution on its own. Inside Punjab, the political elite have swarmed Lahore and forgotten their outlying constituencies. The funds don’t reach the fringe areas as Lahore is seen to hog the budgets. Local movements in at least two more regions — Potohar and Seraiki — have demanded that Punjab shed some territory. Now the Seraiki movement has been fanned by southern politicians within the ruling PML-N and outside it.
Lahore is going to see the latest PPP move as a hostile backstab. It is ignoring calls by its senior south Punjabi politician Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in favour of a Seraiki province in tandem with more provinces elsewhere because it knows the movement will die in the face of procedural roadblocks. Mysterious circles are encouraging new political formations in the south to lessen the clout of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif who wants to cut the ground from under PPP’s feet by cosying up to some sectarian outfits ahead of the next election .
But, truth be told, Pakistan needs more administrative units. Even if a Seraiki province sounds more ethnic-linguistic, the fact that the privileged south Punjabis living in Lahore will go back to their home constituencies and spend money on the infrastructure there will be good for Pakistan. (The elite of Balochistan living in Karachi are similarly retarding their own province.) This is good for decentralisation and regional empowerment. General Zia and General Musharraf thought of 25-27 provinces on the basis of Pakistan’s 27 administrative units called ‘divisions’, but lacked the imagination to carry it off. The politicians today are even less competent.
Big provinces like Punjab are tough to handle. So are big cities like Karachi. The growing failure of the state to establish its writ in many parts of the country has created a situation where far-flung neglected populations are in danger of shifting their allegiances to the terrorists because of a lack of a viable alternative. Besides, for administrative reasons at least, the creation of more geographical units may make some sense.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (23)
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Pakistani Punjabis must be the only linguistic group in the world that has a dismissive--even derogatory--attitude towards their own language. I have lived in or visited a number of countries. I have talked to countless Punjabis both in Pakistan and outside. Most of them, Pakistani Punjabis wherever they may actually reside, are willingly, even proudly, dumping their own language in favor of Urdu. *
*The most aggressive anti-Punjabi-ists come from the educated and semi-educated classes. As soon as they acquire the most minimal academic advancement, the first thing they do is jettison their natural language. I have never seen or heard of an educated, or even semi-educated, Punjabi parent who is willing to communicate with his or her own child in their native tongue. Rather, they strongly discourage and often rebuke their children if they even suspect that they might be talking to other children in Punjabi, because speaking Punjabi is considered a mark of crudeness and bad manners. *
60% of Pakistan population lives in Punjab, BUT, all of them are not Punjabi speaking. There are more Baloch in Punjab than in Balochistan( DG Khan, Sargodha Division, Rajan pur, layya, Okara, Sumandri). There are more Kashmiri in Punjab than in Azad Kashmir (Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, sialkot, Khushab). Huge population of Hazara also found in Lahore.Every town has significant Pathan population. Buisnesses are dominated by Pathans. Smuggled goods, electronic, garments, Timber,carpets, tyres and spare parts, transport, arms and drugs, labourer, carts for pop corns, litter collection, even Chowkidar of every street is Pathan. Pothohari speaking people dominate Rawalpindi Division. Seraiki is most widely spoken language in central and South Punjab. Punjabi speaking people are, in fact, in minority in Punjab.
@Hamza Ali Khan: As'salamu-alaykum!
Living in upper Indus basin ( Punjab of Pakistan ) as united (mainly with one thing in common,) feel secure all the people of area (Aheers, Arains, Awans, Butt, Dogars, Gakhars, Gujjars, Jats, Kambohs, Khokhars, Mughals, Pathans, Rajputs, Sheikhs, Syeds and etc.)
Unless they give a proper practical plans for better administration and put mechanism to ensure it, this is just a game of divide and rule.
W'salam! Allah Hafiz.
Devolution and decentralization of power by creating many provinces in this country is the only solution to Pakistan's presenting ethnic problem. Otherwise, people will keep fighting, and will have grievances against each other. The problem posed by centralized federal administration is that people from other areas feel neglected. Balochis feel deprived because of the same sentiments which the Seraikis are showing. Its the same elsewhere as well. In a country with many ethnicities, the only solution to live harmoniously is to make newer provinces with provincial autonomy being of prime importance. India has devolved power despite many differences among the Indians themselves, but they have a stronger democracy now. Creation of provinces should occur across the board- that is in whole of Pakistan, otherwise Pakistaniat is a vague concept. There is no Pakistaniat in us, and it will continue as such until these issues are resolved. PML-N fears that their stronghold will be shattered. Their funds shall be divided, and powers redistributed; but then alas, what else is thy name of democracy? Treat everyone equally, otherwise there is no Pakistan or a unified unit. A gentleman above says that if Punjab is divided, then they will have to rethink about Pakistaniat. Is Pakistaniat synonymous with autonomy vested in the hands of a particular ethnic group comprising 48% population of the country? If yes, then GOD save the rest.
It is not a bad idea to make nine provinces like states and let them manage security and finances their selves. This can easily boost some spirit of competition over the other to gain progress and utilization of resources what is best in their interest and eliminate revulsions. Defense, treasury, communication, foreign affairs and justice system can be controlled by the feds. Local security (state or provincial police & courts) and agriculture can be managed by the provincial governments and can be held responsible to federal government in case of unlawful negligence. Federal Government will have defense (military and intelligence agencies), federal justice system, treasury, foreign affairs and natural resources. To run federal government, taxes can be levied on all incomes plus provinces can levy their own taxes and earn royalties from federal government to run their own province. Federal government can help on all disasters in any field of life if necessary otherwise the provinces should manage it. In summary there should be complete independence in utilization of resources by these nine provinces and that system has successfully worked in Pakistan before and after Indian partition in the semi autonomous states like, Swat, Kalabagh, Bahawalpur etc. Military should work under federal government within the framework of parliament and constitution to provide defense and the same with the treasury and justice system. All justices and high ranking officials make way through the parliament’s approval with head of government keeping veto and recomendation power but not appointment power. Provinces initially can be three in Punjab and two each for the rest. This can control terrorism, treasons and exploitations and create a bond to progress within themselves by themselves.
One reason of breaking up Punjab in two should be because punjab is over 60% of Pakistan. It can dictate terms to smaller provinces. We all know that southern Punjab has little in common with northern Punjab. My wife is from Multan and whenever i went to Multan from Lahore, was pleasantly surprised that they are less arrogant and self centered. All participants should agree to that, but if a small % is against that, that should not hinder the fulfillment of a new dream.
We are 180 million, with uneven population of each province. Suggestions can be starting from 20 mio for each province to 30 mio, so that we have 6-9 provinces. But, language should never be the basis of creating new provinces, as this will lead to seperatist emotions & in the absence of justice, will lead to balkanization.
As'salamu-alaykum! My dear respected Pakistan brothers and sisters, Few very important points:
Punjabi "as an ethnic group" is a term which is used more by our brothers in the rest of Pakistan for us; example: the first time when I realized, I have another identity "Punjabi" when i came for higher studies in the UK and met with my brothers from Karachi or NWFP.
What is Punjabi identity and what it meant for us? - Nothing in one sense, if you are with us. - In another sense, very important, a symbol of unity(and so symbol of security), for various ethnic groups as a whole that have one thing common which is their faith "Islam".
And about language: Punjabi, Seraiki or others , that doesn't matter, are we not have been giving preference to Urdu as compare to Punjabi language since independence. take care, W'salam! Allah Hafiz.
Upper Punjab Central Punjab South Punjab.
In My opinion, all provinces should be dissolved and District government and union councils to be made only on the basis of Administrative point of view, rather than made on language or culture. Devolution of Power should be made to the lowest level. All the Provinces work to be shifted to District Governments i.e. making laws for respective areas and the union councils works for local government i.e Road works, health and safety measures etc. All other govt service departments like Police, courts etc. to be divided into districts and union councils.e.g City court -karachi and then there 18 UC courts, so that people has easily access to the justice. If we think on this plan we can make it more realistic and accountable. I Requested to all of you please Call us Pakistanis not the mohajir, pushton, pujabi, sindhi etc. it divides the Integrity of the Nation. Pakistan Zindabad.
60% are Punjabis primarily because they live in Punjab, joined by common economic and political interests. Say if we elevate the 27 divisions to the status of provinces, we'd have a Larkana province and a Sukhar province, a Naseerabad province and a Makran, a Lahore province and Gujranwala province and Peshawar province and a Mardan province. Overtime because of the common economic and political interests, the Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pashtoon identities would be out-weighted by these new more local identities. And because these news divisions would be roughly equal in terms of population, no single group would dominate the national politics. We really should consider making a lot more new provinces rather than only the "Saraiki Suba" and truly devolve the power to these new units.More than 75% of the GDP should then be fairly divided amongst these units to spend on their people.
jawed hashmi is the new mir jaffar and mir sadiq all rolled up into one.he has stabbed pml-n in the back and is now campaigning for the complete destruction of punjab into many small small pieces.
the pml-n stood silently by as the ppp plotted the breakup of punjab into small pieces.if the ppp is so keen on new provinces why not start with new provinces in sindh where ppp has two thirds majority? a new province for the urdu speaking people should be made in sindh.
Sorry but this is a false claim. Though we in Potohar have our grievances about Lahore too, we are happy to be in the present Punjab. We don't want our own province. We have opened a can of worms with this issue but the PML-N has for once made a wise policy decision in insisting the new province be called 'South Punjab'.
@nasir jamshed: "Maybe the time has come to rethink the whole idea of Pakistan." Don't you think that is 64 years too late, my friend? Pakistan is a reality. Maybe, the time has come to rethink the whole idea of Pakistaniyat. And ensure that is identity all citizens of Pakistan live by. Not the regional and cultural supremacists who sit in Lahore and Islamabad, and act as if they are Allah's gift to South Asians everywhere. This goes as much for the Punjabis, as it goes for the Pathans. But come to think of it, it goes for all of us. We have never come together as Pakistanis, unlike the Indians, who despite far greater differences, have been making a consistent effort, to stick together ... and we know the flaws in their system are many. If 60% of the country's population is Punjabi ... what exact conclusion do you expect a non Punjabi like me to conclude from your statement? I can only think and conclude that the stereotype (which in turn are partly based on reality), that Punjabiyat has more support in your mind than Pakistaniyat. And that is not acceptable to Sindhis, Balochis, Pathans and others. If provinces are to be made, they should be reconstituted according to administrative efficiencies, just as Ms. Suleman has stated above. Also, Aamir's comments makes a very unbiased statement. Thank heavens, there are still some thinking Pakistanis around. Else, the chauvinism emanating from Lahore, would stifle what remains of us.
All should realize that dream of "Greater Punjab" has already done lot of damage to Pakistan. Its better to understand ground reality and divide all current provinces into three provinces in order to give equal look to division plan which will not heart one province only. If we have decided to divide provinces for better governance, do it for all and no body will complain.
WOW, all I can say is incredible. The sheer hatred in this piece is incredible. I just wonder how dividing Punjab is going to lessen Punjabis in Pakistan. If they are 60% of Punjab's population, they are still going to be 60% of its population. May be time has actually come to rethink the whole idea of Pakistan.
All Divisions of province of Punjab MUST MUST MUST have the Word PUNJAB in their Name. Otherwise there should be no division at all. ENOUGH SAID!
It is a fair demand and should be considered by the parliament. Bifurcation of Punjab into two provinces is not going to hurt the present administrative arrangements. India has done it and done so several times. However, if the purpose is to climb to cabinet positions in the province, there is a need to cap that. Both at the federal level and provincial levels.
Administration should be the ONLY basis of these divisions.