Formidable opposition

The debate over creating new provinces has now hit a formidable political roadblock in Sindh. The Sindh Assembly's unusually emphatic response to calls for dividing the province has demonstrated just how difficult any attempt to redraw the country's provincial map will be.

The province has repeatedly demonstrated a strong political consensus on preserving its territorial integrity, making any attempt to alter its structure far more complicated than a question of administrative efficiency alone.

The debate was formally opened in the Sindh Assembly on Monday when PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro moved an adjournment motion over renewed calls for new provinces and administrative units.

Opposition to dividing Sindh is strong, and the province's political spectrum is well known for its unity on matters concerning Sindh. The question now is how any such proposal can proceed, and what this means for similar reforms in the future, particularly in light of what has just transpired in the Sindh Assembly.

There are arguments on both sides, and both deserve to be considered seriously. It is too early to elucidate the merits and demerits but whatever the next steps are, the matter must be thoroughly debated and investigated at all levels, not just in the provincial assembly but also in other political and social forums.

Such an important issue calls for an inclusive decision-making process. The debate cannot be restricted to politicians. Educationists, researchers and policy experts must also be made part of the discussion so that the implications of any proposed change can be properly examined.

This, however, presents a huge barrier to moving things forward. Sindh has demonstrated vehement opposition to issues that it believes threaten its interests before, most notably the Kalabagh dam.

That history should not be taken lightly. Any attempt to pursue major changes to Sindh's territorial or administrative structure will have to reckon with this political reality.