Peshawar Students Back Creation of New Provinces for Better Governance
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Students and residents in Peshawar have voiced support for the creation of new provinces in Pakistan, arguing that smaller administrative units could strengthen governance, improve access to public services and make the distribution of resources more effective.
Speaking to Express News as a nationwide debate over new provinces continues, students said restructuring the existing provincial system could help address basic problems in sectors such as education and healthcare.
They argued that smaller provinces could make administrative control easier while reducing the distance between citizens and decision-makers.
Residents supporting the proposal also said creating additional provinces could affect the distribution of financial resources under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, which governs the division of certain revenues between the federation and provinces.
They argued that provinces covering smaller geographical areas could potentially be managed more efficiently and allow authorities to respond more directly to local needs. These comments reflect the views of the people interviewed and are not findings of an independent study.
Supporters Cite Resource Distribution and Accessibility
Some Peshawar residents said having additional chief ministers and administrative units could make governance more accessible and effective.
Supporters also argued that smaller units could contribute to a fairer distribution of resources and give local communities a stronger political voice.
The views form part of a much broader national debate that has recently generated sharply different responses from politicians and citizens.
Express News interviews in Lahore last week found several provincial lawmakers supporting the idea of additional provinces, arguing that Pakistan’s population growth and expanding infrastructure, healthcare, education and employment challenges require administrative restructuring.
However, public opinion has not been uniform.
Another Express News survey of politicians and citizens found that while some respondents supported new provinces as a way to improve governance and accountability, others dismissed the debate as a political distraction from inflation, unemployment and high energy costs.
No Formal Proposal Before Parliament Yet
Despite the growing political and public discussion, Pakistan has not yet begun a formal parliamentary process to create new provinces.
Federal adviser Rana Sanaullah said on September 6 that discussion remained confined largely to seminars, forums and media debate. He said no resolution or bill concerning new provinces had yet been introduced in Parliament.
That distinction is important because public support or political statements alone cannot create a new province.
Under Article 239(4) of Pakistan’s Constitution, a constitutional amendment that would alter the boundaries of a province cannot be presented to the president for assent unless it has also been approved by the assembly of the affected province by at least a two-thirds majority of its total membership. A constitutional amendment also requires the prescribed parliamentary supermajorities.
Debate Extends Across Political Spectrum
The issue has increasingly divided political figures.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has previously said there is no inherent problem with creating new provinces, while also stressing the importance of transferring powers to the local-government level.
Other politicians have challenged the timing or structure of the debate, arguing that stronger empowered local governments should come first or that such a major constitutional change requires broad political consensus.
The latest views from Peshawar therefore represent one strand of public opinion rather than a nationwide consensus.
For supporters, the central argument is that smaller provinces could bring government closer to citizens and improve delivery of education, healthcare and other essential services. Critics, meanwhile, question whether creating more provincial administrations would solve those problems without deeper reforms to local government, accountability and fiscal management.
With no formal legislation before Parliament, the question of new provinces remains a political and constitutional debate rather than an approved government plan.
