Pakistan considers creating 12 provinces for better governance

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reignited debate over the possible division of Pakistan's provinces, suggesting that the country could be split into up to 12 smaller administrative units. Asif argued that decentralisation could improve public services and development by bringing government closer to the people. The proposal, reportedly being considered for 2027, would involve reorganising the existing four provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh, potentially creating additional provinces through the division of existing territories.

However, the new provinces would need to be established based on administrative grounds rather than linguistic, ethnic, or political considerations. Supporters of smaller provinces contend that Pakistan's expanding population and urban areas necessitate a more efficient system of administration, as existing provincial capitals struggle to effectively govern large and diverse territories.

The idea for a constitutional restructuring also comes amid calls for greater decentralisation and a more equitable distribution of resources. However, any change to Pakistan's federal structure would require significant constitutional amendments, which would necessitate the support of at least two-thirds of both houses of parliament and the relevant provincial assemblies.