Experts and policymakers have stressed the need for creating new provinces in Pakistan to improve governance, public service delivery, and resource management.
The discussion took place at a roundtable organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Wednesday, bringing together politicians, bureaucrats, legal experts, and media representatives.
The roundtable was addressed by Owais Ahmad Ghani, former governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan; Shakeel Durrani, Executive Director of SOPREST; Ishtiak Ahmad Khan, former federal secretary; Daniyal Aziz, former federal minister; Muhammad Hassan, former ambassador; Zubaida Jalal, former federal minister; Amb Asif Durrani, former special representative to Afghanistan; Hafiz Ahsan Ahmad, corporate and legal attorney; Dr Shoaib Suddle, eminent jurist; Murtaza Solangi, former caretaker minister; and Naveed Kashif, CEO Dunya TV.
The participants argued that Pakistan’s existing administrative divisions are too large to ensure efficient governance, with Punjab alone being bigger than 196 countries.
Speakers noted that the country’s governance challenges stem from an outdated administrative structure, where large provinces struggle to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population.
Several proposals were discussed, including converting current administrative divisions into full-fledged provinces or merging multiple districts to form new ones.
However, the discussion highlighted significant political resistance to such reforms. Regional political elites and parties fear losing influence, which has prevented meaningful progress on this issue.
Participants suggested that Parliament take the lead in addressing these concerns by forming a dedicated commission or parliamentary committee to consult all stakeholders.
They emphasised that a structured approach involving media, the intelligentsia, and policymakers is necessary to build national consensus on the issue.
IPRI President Amb Dr Raza Muhammad opened the session, while Director Research, IPRI, Dr Raashid Wali Janjua, moderated the discussion. He outlined the economic, administrative, and political factors necessitating the creation of new provinces.
Speakers argued that dividing large provinces into smaller administrative units would enhance law and order, civic amenities, and infrastructure development. Former minister Daniyal Aziz stressed that empowering local governments is crucial for effective governance.
However, he warned that such changes could alter Pakistan’s federal structure, requiring constitutional amendments.
Former bureaucrats Shakeel Durrani and Ishtiaq Ahmad suggested that existing “Divisions” could function effectively as new provinces, providing a more manageable governance model. They emphasized the need for fiscal and political devolution to strengthen local governments.
Experts noted that Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Turkiye have significantly more administrative units — 34, 38, and 81 provinces, respectively — making a strong case for Pakistan to consider similar reforms.
The discussion also highlighted issues such as excessive bureaucratic interference, lack of a clear financial framework, and weak local government structures, which have hampered governance and service delivery.
The roundtable concluded with a consensus that Pakistan’s governance structure needs urgent reform.
Experts urged policymakers to take bold steps toward administrative restructuring, emphasizing that the creation of new provinces could enhance political stability, economic efficiency, and overall governance
