Sources say no formal proposal to create new provinces or administrative units has yet been presented to the federal cabinet.
WEB DESK: Influential circles are reportedly in favour of restructuring Pakistan’s existing administrative system to create additional provinces or administrative units, but no formal proposal has yet been discussed by the federal cabinet, according to informed sources cited by The News.
The sources said that although the debate over creating new federal units has gained momentum in recent weeks, no formal proposal has so far been placed before the cabinet for consideration or approval.
The development comes amid increasingly prominent calls from senior federal ministers for a fundamental review of Pakistan’s existing administrative structure.
No formal proposal before federal cabinet
According to the sources, discussions surrounding the possible creation of new provinces or administrative units remain at an informal stage.
No proposal has reportedly been submitted to the federal cabinet for formal consideration, meaning there is currently no cabinet-approved plan to create additional provinces.
The sources did not provide details of any specific boundaries, number of proposed units or a formal timetable for such restructuring.
The issue is nevertheless gaining political attention as senior government figures publicly discuss whether Pakistan’s current administrative framework remains suitable for its growing population and governance requirements.
Ahsan Iqbal proposes 12 to 15 provinces
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has recently suggested the creation of 12 to 15 provinces in Pakistan.
Iqbal has argued that the country’s existing four provinces have become excessively centralised and that the current administrative structure is no longer sufficient to effectively govern a population of around 260 million people.
His proposal has added momentum to an increasingly visible political debate over whether Pakistan should create additional provinces or administrative units.
The proposal, however, remains a political suggestion rather than an approved government policy.
Debate over administrative restructuring
Calls for new provinces have periodically emerged in Pakistan, with proponents arguing that smaller administrative units could improve governance, service delivery and political representation.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about the political, constitutional and financial implications of creating new provinces.
Any change involving provincial boundaries would require compliance with constitutional procedures, including the relevant parliamentary and provincial requirements.
For now, the federal government has not formally placed a comprehensive new-provinces proposal before the cabinet for approval.
The latest developments indicate that the issue is being discussed more openly within political circles, but whether those discussions translate into a formal government policy remains unclear.
