CREATION OF ADDITIONAL PROVINCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS IN PAKISTAN – PROS AND CONS
Keywords:
provinces, administrative units, Pakistan, Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh, KPK, politics of Pakistan, geography of Pakistan, administration of Pakistan, economy of PakistanAbstract
More provinces are created in many countries as and when the need arises. In Pakistan also, the creation of new provinces has been voiced since independence. Renaming of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and backing of Saraiki movement by the elected government have
given further thrust to these voices. The basic reason for improving governance and uplift of backward areas has been overshadowed by ethnicity and political desires. This ethnic provincial politics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa left an enduring effect on the present politics
of the country. The situation has been further complicated as governments and political players always warm up their muscles in a do-or-die condition to succeed in elections. There is a strong resistance also against the creation of new provinces in many circles.
Relevance of the creation of new provinces in other countries vis-à-vis the scenario in Pakistan, the balkanization of Pakistan and the increase of ethnic and political rivalry are a few reasons for this resistance. While analysing the background of the problem and
keeping in view national integration in focus, this research is an attempt to find out the perception that is there a need to create new provinces or administrative units in Pakistan.
