Experts share views on creation of more provinces

Some advocate smaller administrative units while others stress constitutional amendments

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ISLAMABAD:

Experts on federalism, democracy, and devolution shared contrasting views on the creation of new provinces in Pakistan. Some argued for smaller provinces as administrative units, while others emphasised that new provinces should be established through constitutional amendments, considering language, culture, and local dynamics rather than administrative divisions.

They were speaking at a roundtable discussion on "Political Economy of Administrative Restructuring" organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Thursday.

Educationist and head of a media outlet, Mian Muhammad Amir, presented his paper titled 'Pakistan 1947-2025 - Why it continues to fail its people?' Development in Pakistan is limited to five capitals (one federal and four provincial), he said, adding there is a dire need to create more smaller provinces at the division levels along administrative lines.

PPP Senator (retd) Farhatullah Babar said that they have been discussing the issue of new provinces within the party. In other countries, language and culture were behind creating new states, he said, adding that we must go through the provisions of the constitution to move towards creating more provinces. New provinces cannot be made unless the provincial assembly of the respective province adopts a unanimous resolution to do so, as was done by the Punjab Assembly on Seraiki province.

Instead of asking for new smaller provinces, there is a need to empower local governments so that the people can benefit from these governments at local levels.

Former Punjab minister Mian Imran Massod said that our politicians should not be afraid of such academic debates on issues of public interest. Supporting the ideas of smaller provinces, he said that since the 18th Amendment, devolution to provinces has been done and it caused no harm to the federation. Similarly, more provinces may not affect federal structure.