Empowered Local Bodies Could End New Provinces Debate: Hamza Shehbaz
Umer Jamshaid
Published September 05, 2026 | 01:16 PM
Former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz stated on Friday that a fully empowered local government system, coupled with constitutional protection for its tenure, could have significantly reduced the ongoing debate over new provinces.
He made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Pakistan English Media Association (PEMA), who invited him to discuss various topics, including local government, the new provinces controversy, and the widening gap between citizens and provincial governments.
Led by PEMA President Rameez Khan, the meeting attended by representatives from local and international English-language media outlets.
Hamza argued that if local governments were permitted to function effectively with continuous tenures akin to those of the National and Provincial Assemblies, there would be little need to discuss the creation of new provinces. He, however, emphasized that any progress on this issue could only be achieved through political party dialogue.
He also questioned political parties' role in empowering local governments, suggesting they needed to conduct self-reflection regarding their shortcomings:
"Every blame cannot be placed on the establishment. Political parties should also do some soul-searching. Did we do our part?"
Hamza noted that civil servants often warned sitting governments about the potential dangers of empowered local governments, claiming they would infringe upon provincial authority. He advocated for granting local governments constitutional protection to prevent premature dissolutions by any government:
"A weak local government system will not be able to resolve public issues. A strong and empowered local government is essential for addressing people's problems."
Addressing the growing distance between voters and governments, Hamza blamed political parties' disconnection from their supporters for their decline. He emphasized the importance of a strong bond with the electorate for political sustainability.
He also praised English-language media, particularly print media, for maintaining high journalistic standards, despite the rise of digital and social media.