ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (Alliance News): A roundtable discussion at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) emphasized the need for new provinces to enhance governance and public service delivery in Pakistan.
The event, attended by politicians, academics, and public policy experts, underscored the administrative, economic, and political benefits of provincial restructuring.
Speakers, including former governors Owais Ahmad Ghani and Shakeel Durrani, former ministers Daniyal Aziz and Zubaida Jalal, and legal expert Dr. Shoaib Suddle, stressed that redrawing provincial boundaries was essential for national security and public welfare.
The discussion highlighted that Punjab alone is larger than 196 countries, making decentralization crucial for efficient governance.
The experts proposed converting existing administrative divisions into provinces, noting that resistance from regional political elites remains a major hurdle. Participants suggested forming a parliamentary committee to consult stakeholders and lead the process of creating new provinces.
Former bureaucrats argued that a bottom-up approach, with empowered local governments and fiscal devolution, would enhance governance.
They cited examples of Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Turkey, which have multiple provinces, as models for Pakistan’s administrative restructuring.
The discussion concluded that the lack of an effective local government system, financial mismanagement, and bureaucratic interference have hindered governance, making the creation of new provinces a necessary reform.
