Parliament to debate new provinces next month, says minister

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced that parliament will debate the creation of new provinces next month. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had previously advocated for this change in late July, deeming the existing system "collapsed". Chaudhry stated that sessions of both the National Assembly and Senate are scheduled for October, during which the debate will take place.

He emphasized that parliament is the appropriate forum for discussing the formation of new provinces, as both the National Assembly and Senate have representation from all four provinces.

Chaudhry expressed hope for a constructive discussion on the matter, urging political parties to approach the issue with a logical perspective and not to take an emotional stance. He also mentioned that the Islamabad governance model would be introduced as a formal act, while preserving Islamabad's federal status. This model involves creating a legislative assembly for Islamabad, with all relevant institutions under the supervision of a chief executive or mayor.

A draft proposal for governance changes, including the formation of a legislative body, has been prepared by a five-member committee appointed by the prime minister. In July, Naqvi had called for a dialogue among all political parties to reform the current governance system and establish new provinces. However, the proposal has sparked a heated debate, with the PPP referring the issue to its decision-making forum, the Sindh chief minister rejecting it, Lahore's lawyers deeming it unconstitutional, and Sindhi nationalist groups demanding Chaudhry's resignation.