Defence minister calls for devolution, says existing administrative structure needs reform
Pakistan: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of adopting a “double standard” on the creation of new provinces, saying the party supports a Saraiki province in Punjab but raises the issue of Sindhudesh when wider administrative restructuring is proposed.
In a post on X, Asif said the PPP had shown a “soft corner” for the demand for a Saraiki province whenever the issue was raised in Punjab.
“But when there is talk of multiple provinces or administrative units instead of four, the talk of Sindhudesh begins,” he said.
Asif said he believed there was “something else” behind what he described as the PPP’s contradictory position, adding that he would explain his view “at some point”.
The minister, however, stressed national unity, saying, “we are Pakistanis, first and last”.
Asif calls for implementation of 18th Amendment
Asif also called for the effective implementation of the devolution framework introduced through the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
He said the principle of devolution had been established constitutionally but had not been properly implemented, resulting in continued concentration of authority.
According to Asif, powers should be transferred to lower administrative levels to strengthen democracy at the grassroots and improve public service delivery.
He suggested that Pakistan could use its existing 36 divisions as a possible basis for a new administrative arrangement or develop another geographical structure.
The defence minister said devolution of power was “inevitable”, arguing that the existing system needed to be reconsidered.
Debate over new provinces gains momentum
The remarks come as the debate over Pakistan’s administrative structure has intensified in recent months.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revived the issue in July, saying the country’s governance system could no longer effectively address its challenges.
Naqvi called for fundamental administrative reforms and proposed moving towards new administrative units, whether they were called provinces or by another name.
He also advocated dividing existing provinces on administrative grounds and transferring greater powers to lower levels of government to improve governance and accelerate development.
The PPP opposed taking the proposal further, saying no concrete plan for administrative restructuring had been presented to the party.
Ahsan Iqbal proposes 12 to 15 provinces
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has also called for a national debate on restructuring Pakistan’s administrative system.
Iqbal proposed the creation of 12 to 15 provinces and suggested forming a committee on administrative reforms to examine possible options.
He said any decision to create new provinces would require political consensus.
Iqbal has argued that Pakistan’s four provinces have become highly centralised, with significant administrative powers concentrated in provincial capitals.
He has also proposed establishing around 160 empowered district governments across the country to strengthen governance at the local level.
According to Iqbal, it is difficult to effectively administer entire provinces from Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta while ensuring that government services reach people at the grassroots.
He warned that demands for new provinces could grow if meaningful devolution to districts and local governments was not achieved.
Devolution and new provinces remain linked
The latest statements have broadened the debate beyond the creation of additional provinces to the wider question of how Pakistan should distribute administrative and political authority.
While some proposals focus on creating new provinces, others emphasise empowering districts and local governments within the existing provincial structure.
Asif’s comments have added a new political dimension to the discussion, bringing the PPP’s position under scrutiny while renewing calls for greater devolution of power.
The debate is expected to continue as political parties and policymakers consider whether Pakistan’s existing four-province structure can effectively meet the country’s growing administrative and governance needs.