- Four provinces have become increasingly centralised: minister.
- Political consensus essential for creating new provinces: Iqbal.
- PM’s aide says no decision taken on creating new provinces.
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has proposed creating 12 to 15 new provinces in Pakistan, reviving a decades-old debate over the country’s administrative structure.
Iqbal has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to form a committee to examine administrative reforms and begin a national political debate on the proposal. He said the creation of new provinces would ultimately require broad political consensus.
“I have proposed that a committee be made, on administrative reforms, through the law minister that can at least start a national and political debate on what can and cannot be done,” Iqbal told The News.
Iqbal Proposes Dividing Each Province
Iqbal suggested dividing each of Pakistan’s four provinces into three smaller provinces. He said the process would need to follow an equitable formula to prevent major changes in political representation.
“I would say we need 12-15 new provinces,” he said. “Divided all provinces into three each.”
He argued that the existing provincial system has become increasingly centralised and monopolistic. According to Iqbal, this has contributed to weaknesses in the delivery of essential services, including health and education.
However, he acknowledged that creating new provinces would require political agreement. He said he planned to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the premier’s return from Kyrgyzstan.
No Formal Federal Process Yet
Despite Iqbal’s proposal, the federal government has not formally begun the process.
Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, coordinator to the prime minister, told The News that no decision had been made regarding new provinces or administrative units.
“No such committee has been made at the federal level. There is no such talk on any forum officially,” he said.
He added that if new provinces were eventually created, they would likely be established for the next election cycle.
Debate Over Pakistan’s Administrative Structure
Pakistan currently has four provinces, two autonomous territories and one federal capital territory. Calls for additional provinces have emerged periodically over the years.
The latest debate intensified after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi raised the issue in July. A day later, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also called for a serious discussion about the country’s administrative structure.
Naqvi argued that Pakistan’s existing governance system was no longer functioning effectively. The ISPR chief also questioned whether four provinces could provide effective governance for a population that has increased substantially over the decades.
Sindh Faces Strong Opposition
The proposal has faced particularly strong opposition in Sindh, where nationalist parties have organised demonstrations against any attempt to divide the province.
Ayaz Latif Palijo, president of the Sindh-based Qaumi Awami Tehreek, said his party wanted Sindh to remain united.
The proposal has also drawn criticism from political figures outside Sindh. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari described Naqvi’s remarks as unserious, while PPP leader Nisar Khuhro strongly opposed any division of Sindh.
Would Smaller Provinces Improve Governance?
The question of whether smaller provinces would improve governance remains contested.
Umair Javed, who teaches politics and sociology at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, said academic research does not provide a clear answer. He noted that smaller administrative units can potentially bring decision-making closer to citizens.
However, he warned that decentralisation without accountability could result in elite capture.
The debate is therefore not only about the number of provinces. It also concerns where political and administrative power should be located.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently proposed placing Karachi and Gwadar under the federal government instead of creating them as separate provinces. Javed argued that such a move could increase federal revenues without necessarily solving governance problems at the municipal level.
Financial Challenges
Creating new provinces would also involve significant financial and administrative costs.
Each new province would require institutions such as a provincial assembly, chief minister’s office and high court. Government departments, bureaucratic structures, salaries and administrative infrastructure would also need to be established.
Javed warned that Pakistan’s limited fiscal space could make such a large restructuring expensive.
The process could also raise complicated questions about the distribution of water, land, natural resources and federal funds.
Water Allocation Could Become a Major Issue
Water distribution could be among the most sensitive challenges.
Pakistan’s four provinces currently have established shares under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord. Dividing an existing province would raise questions about how its allocation should be distributed among the newly created provinces.
Such decisions could require extensive political negotiations between the federal government and the provinces.
Political Stakes
The proposed restructuring could also significantly affect Pakistan’s political balance.
Some political activists believe the push for new provinces could alter control over political power and resources. They have also linked previous proposals for administrative restructuring with periods of military rule.
Umair Javed said the debate could potentially weaken major political parties by forcing them to negotiate over their established provincial political bases.
For now, Iqbal’s proposal remains an idea rather than an approved government plan. Any move to create new provinces would require extensive political negotiations, constitutional changes and agreement on the distribution of resources and representation
