Naqvi Calls For People-led Debate On Creation Of New Provinces
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday called for a broad, constitutionally compliant debate on the creation of new provinces and administrative units. He emphasized that any decision should be guided by the will of the people rather than political considerations or emotions.
Addressing the National Policy Dialogue at the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Naqvi argued for structural reforms to improve governance, ensure equitable development, and enhance access to basic amenities like education, healthcare, clean drinking water, and justice.
"This is not something that is going to happen tomorrow or the day after," he stated, urging political parties and the public to approach the topic rationally. He added that if people believe new administrative units are necessary for their betterment and support the idea, there should be no obstacle to their creation within the framework of the Constitution.
Naqvi highlighted the need to inform the public about the advantages and disadvantages of creating new provinces before leaving the decision in their hands. He clarified his earlier call for a "reset," stating that he was advocating for "course correcting" a system that has failed to deliver effectively over the past 79 years.
He questioned the adequacy of the existing provincial structure for balanced development, citing the administrative and economic significance of cities like Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta. Naqvi also advocated for greater devolution of powers to grassroots-level local governments.
"Everyone should have access to education, healthcare, potable water, and justice," he said, acknowledging the failure of successive governments to provide these basic facilities for every citizen. He noted that Pakistan's size, now making it the world's fifth most populous country, necessitates a reevaluation of its governance system.
Naqvi compared governance challenges to home and business management, emphasizing the importance of regular system reviews to improve resource utilization. He urged similar discussions to unlock Pakistan’s development potential.