Editorial: The cost of it — another case against new provinces and for empowering local governments

The cost of creating additional provinces in Pakistan is substantial, according to a think tank report. An Islamabad-based research institute estimates that establishing two more provinces in Punjab could increase annual expenses by Rs47 billion to Rs57 billion. If all 30 divisional units were transformed into provinces, the cost could escalate to a staggering Rs610 billion to Rs730 billion.

Creating a new province necessitates the establishment of a permanent administrative and political framework, including a governor, chief minister, assembly, secretariat, and high court. The salaries, operating expenses, and overheads associated with these entities would need to be sustained year after year, potentially diverting funds from critical development projects.

This fiscal reality undermines the argument that provincial restructuring is a cost-effective method to enhance government responsiveness. In fact, it introduces an additional layer of government that may prove difficult to justify. While smaller administrative units could prompt political and economic grievances in certain regions, such as the southern districts of Punjab, these concerns cannot be addressed solely by creating new capitals, assemblies, and secretariats.

Furthermore, the fiscal argument should not be used to dismiss legitimate demands for political representation and administrative autonomy. Instead of merely using the fiscal argument to dismiss legitimate demands, could the same objectives be achieved through empowered local governments? Political parties' history of suspending, delaying, or weakening elected local government representatives suggests that the issue lies not in the size of provinces but in the reluctance of political leadership to delegate power and resources.

Functional local governments, endowed with predictable funding, elected representatives, and clearly defined responsibilities, could bring decision-making closer to citizens without increasing provincial overheads. Any proposal for provincial restructuring must demonstrate how it would improve public services and establish how new units would finance their recurring expenditure.

The creation of provinces is a long-term fiscal and constitutional commitment. Political parties advocating for new provinces must elucidate their plans for funding these ventures and outline the improvements citizens can anticipate.