LAHORE: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday called for a national debate on the creation of new provinces, saying any decision on administrative restructuring should take into account the prevailing political and constitutional circumstances.
Addressing a Khatm-e-Nabuwwat conference at Wahdat Road Cricket Ground, Fazlur Rehman said JUI-F was not opposed to the creation of additional provinces in principle but rejected unilateral decisions on the issue.
“We are not against creating units on principle,” he said, stressing that political parties should discuss the matter before any decision is taken.
What did Fazlur Rehman say about new provinces?
Fazlur Rehman said provinces have constitutional authority over natural resources following the 18th Amendment and argued that political parties must be involved in any discussion concerning changes to the existing provincial structure.
“Do not impose any decision unilaterally; there should be a debate on it,” he said.
He criticised major political parties over their positions on administrative restructuring, saying the Pakistan Peoples Party had largely addressed the issue in the context of Sindh while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had not presented a clear position.
The JUI-F chief also linked political and ethnic divisions with instability in the country and called for greater attention to national cohesion and public security.
Why has the debate over new provinces intensified?
The remarks come amid renewed political discussion over Pakistan’s administrative structure.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently called for fundamental administrative reforms and argued that new administrative units could improve governance and accelerate development. He said provinces could be reorganised on administrative grounds with greater authority devolved to lower levels.
Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal subsequently called for a national debate on the issue and proposed examining the possibility of creating 12 to 15 provinces. He also advocated stronger district governments and greater devolution of administrative powers.
The Pakistan Peoples Party has opposed moving forward without a concrete proposal and political consensus.
The debate has increasingly focused on whether Pakistan should create additional provinces or strengthen local governments and transfer greater administrative authority to districts under the existing provincial framework.
Fazlur Rehman also criticised Pakistan’s reliance on external borrowing, arguing that economic policymaking should give greater consideration to national interests and domestic priorities.
He further said JUI-F would oppose efforts to repeal the country’s blasphemy laws.