New smaller provinces a national necessity: Kamal

MQM demands resignation of CM over 'failure' to deliver on public welfare projects

KARACHI:

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the creation of smaller provinces is not a matter of anyone's personal desire but a national necessity, adding that new provinces have become essential for the effective functioning and survival of the state.

He said Pakistan's existing provinces were larger in area than most countries of the world, but the failure to devolve powers and resources to the grassroots level remained the country's biggest administrative challenge.

Kamal said Punjab was larger in area than 180 countries, Sindh than 175, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa than 162 and Balochistan than 185 countries. In comparison, Iran had 17 provinces, Afghanistan 37 and India 38.

He said the four provinces had received Rs8,844 billion from the divisible pool this year, but these resources were not reaching villages and local communities.

The minister described Karachi as Pakistan's economic and revenue-generating engine, saying that even 10 per cent of the city's potential had yet to be utilised. He said Karachi had the capacity to help pull Pakistan out of its economic difficulties.

Meanwhile, the MQM-P has demanded the immediate resignation of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, accusing his government of failing to deliver on public welfare and development projects.

In a statement, an MQM-P spokesperson said the chief minister had failed to complete even University Road despite spending billions of rupees over the past seven years.

In reaction, Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed has criticised the MQM over its demand for new provinces, saying that those enjoying the perks of federal ministries should put their own house in order before talking about resignation.

An ATC at Karachi Central Jail has accepted written apologies submitted by an MQM woman member of the Sindh Assembly and other accused in cases involving charges of sedition and other offences, and withdrawn their non-bailable arrest warrants.

Dr Farooq Sattar did not appear before the court due to his political engagements in Islamabad.

The accused, including Aamir Khan, Qamar Mansoor, Sindh Assembly member Quratul Ain, Rabia, Intikhab Haider, Saleem and Irfan Alam, appeared before the court.