ISLAMABAD: A roundtable discussion on the need for new provinces was held at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Wednesday to examine whether it enhances governance and public service delivery or not.

The event brought together politicians, policymakers, academics and media representatives to deliberate the pressing issue of administrative divisions and their role in national development.

Key speakers included former governors Owais Ahmad Ghani and Shakeel Durrani, former federal ministers Daniyal Aziz and Zubaida Jalal, former ambassador Muhammad Hassan, former special representative to Afghanistan Asif Durrani, corporate and legal attorney Hafiz Ahsan Ahmad, jurist Dr Shoaib Suddle, former caretaker minister Murtaza Solangi and Naveed Kashif, CEO of Dunya TV.

The discussion was moderated by Dr Raashid Wali Janjua, Director of Research at IPRI, while IPRI President Dr Raza Muhammad inaugurated the session.

The panellists agreed that Pakistan’s governance structure required urgent reforms, with the creation of new provinces emerging as a viable solution to administrative and public service challenges.

Punjab, for example, was larger than some countries, making its governance complex and inefficient, the speakers noted.

They suggested that either existing administrative units should be converted into provinces or multiple districts should be merged to form new provinces.

A key obstacle, it was noted, is resistance from regional political elites, who viewed new provinces as a threat to their influence.

Similarly, differences between regional and mainstream political parties have stalled progress on the issue.

To break this deadlock, the panellists recommended forming a parliamentary committee to conduct thorough consultations with stakeholders, including the media and intelligentsia, to create a roadmap for new provinces.

The discussion highlighted that better governance through provincial restructuring could improve law and order, infrastructure and civic services.

Former bureaucrats Shakeel Durrani and Ishtiaq Ahmed suggested that existing administrative “divisions” could function effectively as provinces, ensuring more efficient public service delivery.

Daniyal Aziz emphasised the importance of empowering local governments, warning that failure to devolve power effectively could push Pakistan towards a unitary system.

The panellists pointed out that other countries, such as Afghanistan (34 provinces), Indonesia (38 provinces), and Turkey (81 provinces), have successfully managed governance through smaller administrative units. Pakistan, with its growing population, would similarly benefit from more provinces to ensure equitable resource distribution and service delivery.

Participants also criticised the lack of an effective local government system, which has been undermined by bureaucratic interference and financial ambiguities.

The failure to implement the Sartaj Aziz Committee’s recommendations and Supreme Court rulings on Gilgit-Baltistan’s provincial status was cited as an example of governance failures.

The session concluded with a strong call for a comprehensive strategy to address Pakistan’s administrative and governance challenges, ensuring an efficient and inclusive federal structure.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2025