FOLLOWING the interior minister’s recent remarks on new administrative units, there has been much discussion in political and intellectual circles on the topic. It seems that the powers that be are pressing for administrative devolution. Earlier, they had favoured local governments and often attempted to transfer decision-making powers and resources to the lower tiers. Is the current push the same approach in different packaging? While we frequently hear about smaller provinces and administrative units , cities, towns and rural locations are not mentioned. The fact is that cities, especially large urban regions, need a special arrangement for governance, resource allocation and service delivery. If the current rulers sincerely want a workable reset, then this aspect must be factored in.
Future devolution plans must begin with a gradual reduction in the number of cantonment administrations. Approximately four dozen cantonments exist across the country, especially in the larger cities. Many view them as administrative and developmental anomalies. Residents and civil administrations complain that these areas are not aligned with urban development initiatives. Their planning and zonal control must, therefore, be given to local regulatory authorities to facilitate uniform policymaking and planning. All neighbourhoods under federal land management agencies must also fall under local land management bodies.
Moreover, the definition of urban and rural structures cannot be left to provincial governments. We have seen that, over the years, no effective and innovative effort has been made to bring about institutional reforms. Our urban development authorities are merely poor upgrades of colonial improvement trusts. A visit to any municipal office takes one back to the 19th century.
Modern, efficient and accountable institutions are long overdue. Similarly, capable tehsil and taluka administrations must focus on the betterment of small farmers, entrepreneurs, industries and digital businesses. One would hate to see our peasants bowing before corrupt and cruel feudals.
Cities must be allowed to look after their own governance issues.
The sway that provincial governments have over city administrations must also be phased out. Large and medium cities must be empowered to tackle their own administrative, economic and governance challenges. In addition, a desperately needed overhaul of the police department can neither be overlooked nor postponed. The growing law-and-order challenges in many parts of the country, particularly Karachi, cannot be addressed without a competent and locally accountable police force. If law enforcers continue to serve the influential, then reform will remain a pipe dream.
Cities and local units should be effectively empowered when it comes to taxation. The transfer of resources through national and provincial financial commissions should be carried out through a just and transparent mechanism. It is ironic that while hundreds of new projects are announced and their foundation stones are laid with tremendous fanfare, a sound method for the maintenance of existing infrastructure is nowhere in sight.
An oft-discussed aspect of the new design is that the restructuring will be an irreversible process. Therefore, a pragmatic, large-scale approach for the benefit of urban and rural populations is crucial, particularly for poor communities in underdeveloped areas. It is hoped that the anticipated administrative makeover will be initiated through planned procedures around a commonly shared vision for durable impro-vement and progress. There should also be new platforms for experts’ participation in the development of our urban and rural regions.
Cities are the seats of our civilisation and engines of progress. If we fail to give direction to their growth and sustenance, we will not have a future. Besides, cities are our common habitat. Therefore, the opinions of experts from a variety of disciplines and the aspirations of every cross-section of society need to be accommodated to shape consensus on what Pakistan’s cities and adjoining regions should look like.
Certain elements see the rise of cities, urban culture and the attainment of an urban identity as politically undesirable. It must be remembered that the recognition of all cities as units of effective administration is the first step towards acknowledging the dreams of youth and especially women. Millions of young people in this country can live a decent life with a sense of purpose if Pakistan has a collection of large, medium and small cities and rural areas that are capable of providing good opportunities, safety, education and essential facilities. This is not unattainable.
The writer is an academic and researcher.
Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2026
