New provinces debate set for parliament today

Both houses expected to pass a proposed unanimous resolution concerning the Makkah Peace Accord

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly and Senate will meet today (Monday) after a prolonged recess to take up important legislation, including a proposed unanimous resolution on the Makkah Peace Accord and a detailed discussion on the creation of new provinces.

According to the agendas issued by the two houses, a total of 17 bills will be presented for approval, with 10 bills scheduled for consideration in the Senate and seven in the National Assembly.

The Senate has a 69-point agenda, which includes consideration of several pieces of legislation. Among the bills listed for approval is the Election Act (Amendment) Bill.

The upper house will also take up the Anti-Rape Investigations and Trial (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Imports and Exports (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The agenda also includes the Science and Technology Zones Authority (Amendment) Bill, the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill and the Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill.

Apart from legislation, both houses are expected to take up matters of wider national and political importance, including a proposed unanimous resolution concerning the Makkah Peace Accord.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7- a collective security pact dictating that an armed attack on any single member nation will be considered an attack on all three.

The issue of creating new provinces is also expected to generate detailed debate, with lawmakers likely to discuss the constitutional, administrative and political implications of establishing new federating units.

Addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad on July 31, Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi called for creating additional administrative units or provinces to overhaul the country's outdated governance system.

The statement sparked a strong reaction, with leaders of various parties speaking both against and in support of Naqvi's point of view.