New provinces must be created through constitutional process: PPP
• Nayyer Bokhari urges govt to take matter before federal cabinet, parliament
• Seeks clarity on NFC distribution, parliamentary representation
ISLAMABAD: PPP Parliamentarians Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bokhari on Tuesday said any decision to create new provinces must be taken through the constitutional and parliamentary process and with political consensus and warned against using the issue for political rhetoric or point-scoring.
“The decision on the creation of new provinces should be taken by the elected representatives of the people and irresponsible statements and rhetoric on the issue should not be used to further deepen divisions in the country,” Mr Bokhari said in a statement.
He said a consensus document and broad political agreement were needed on the important national issue of creating new provinces to strengthen the federation and its constituent units.
“All steps concerning the creation of new provinces should be taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Constitution,” he added.
Mr Bokhari said the Constitution clearly defined the procedure for creating new provinces. “If the government’s ministers are serious about the matter, they should have the courage to bring it before the federal cabinet,” he said.
He said the prime minister should seek formal cabinet approval on the issue and then follow the constitutional and parliamentary process.
The PPP leader said it was surprising that the issue had not yet been brought before the federal cabinet for discussion.
He said a constitutional amendment was required to increase the number of provinces and that new provinces could not be created through statements and announcements alone.
Mr Bokhari questioned why government ministers advocating the creation of new provinces were not raising the matter in parliament.
He also called for clarity on how resources would be redistributed under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award after the creation of new provinces and how representation in the Senate and National Assembly would be determined.
Mr Bokhari said the creation of new provinces was a serious national and constitutional matter and “not a hockey match where a team can be formed whenever one wants”.
He stressed that such sensitive issues should be resolved through the Constitution, Parliament and national consensus rather than political point-scoring.
He said members of the National Assembly and ministers elected from Punjab should ensure implementation of the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly calling for the creation of a South Punjab province.
“If the government is genuinely serious about creating new provinces, it should take practical steps while taking into account existing resolutions and constitutional requirements,” he added.
Mr Bokhari called on the prime minister to hold formal consultations with parliamentary political parties on the creation of new provinces so that the matter could be addressed through consensus.
Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2026
