ISLAMABAD: The ongoing debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units in Pakistan is not aimed at targeting any particular province or region, a senior government official has said, stressing that the primary objective is to improve governance and make the administrative system more responsive to citizens.
Speaking to The News on condition of anonymity, the official said no final decision had yet been made on whether Pakistan needed additional provinces, new administrative units or greater devolution of powers to district and local-government levels.
“There is no intention to target any particular province or any particular region,” the official said, adding that the central question was whether changes to the existing administrative system could improve governance and deliver tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.
Debate Still at an Early Stage
The official said the discussion was still in its initial stages and that it would be premature to suggest the government had already settled on a specific model.
Whether Pakistan ultimately creates new provinces, establishes additional administrative units or transfers greater powers to district and local governments remains undecided, the official said.
According to him, any future restructuring would ultimately be assessed on the basis of whether it improves governance and produces visible benefits for the public.
The clarification comes as political debate over Pakistan’s administrative structure has intensified, with federal ministers and political leaders increasingly discussing the possibility of creating smaller provinces or administrative units.
Focus on Public Interest
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has recently supported taking the issue to the people, arguing that any major restructuring should ultimately reflect public opinion.
His remarks have contributed to a wider discussion about the possible creation of new provinces, administrative units and the constitutional procedures that would be required to implement such changes.
The senior government official said the immediate objective was not to determine the number or boundaries of potential provinces. Instead, the priority was to initiate a serious national debate and develop consensus on whether the existing administrative structure was adequately serving the people.
He stressed that the discussion should remain focused on public interests rather than political or regional considerations.
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Provinces and Administrative Units Are Different
The official’s comments also highlight an important distinction between creating new provinces and undertaking broader administrative reforms.
Creating a new province would raise constitutional questions, particularly where changes to existing provincial boundaries are involved. Such changes would require the relevant constitutional process.
Administrative restructuring, however, could take other forms, including the creation of administrative units or greater devolution of authority to districts and local governments, without necessarily changing Pakistan’s constitutional map.
For this reason, the government has not yet committed itself to a specific approach, according to the official.
PML-N Says National Interest Will Guide Position
Asked about the position of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, the official said the party would support whatever approach was ultimately considered to be in Pakistan’s national interest.
“The PML-N will do whatever is in the interest of Pakistan,” he said when asked about the likely positions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
However, the official did not indicate whether the PML-N leadership had already reached a consensus on the creation of new provinces or administrative units.
He also declined to speculate about the potential role of President Asif Ali Zardari in the debate, responding when asked about the matter: “You should ask Asif Ali Zardari.”
For now, the government’s position appears to be that the discussion remains open, with governance, public benefit and national consensus expected to remain central to any future decision on Pakistan’s administrative structure.
