Mustafa Kamal says referendum will decide new provinces

MQM-Pakistan leader and Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has stated that the creation of new, smaller provinces is a "national necessity" rather than a political desire. Speaking in Karachi, Kamal argued that the current four-province administrative structure is insufficient for the effective functioning of the state and that smaller provinces are indispensable to save and run the country.

He noted that Pakistan's provinces are exceptionally large compared to many countries, stating that Punjab's population exceeds that of 180 countries, Sindh exceeds 175, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa exceeds 162, and Balochistan exceeds 185.

According to Kamal, while provinces received a combined Rs8.84 trillion during the current financial year from a 57.5 per cent share of the divisible federal revenue pool, these funds are not reaching grassroots communities because provinces have failed to devolve resources and authority. The Daily Times reports that Kamal described December as a crucial month for these proposed changes, adding that a referendum will determine whether Pakistan creates new provinces.

In response to these remarks, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Waqar Mehdi demanded the immediate removal of Kamal, accusing the minister of using "anti-Sindh rhetoric" and making divisive statements instead of addressing his ministry's performance. Dawn - Pakistan reports that Mehdi also raised questions regarding alleged financial irregularities and a potential scam involving billions of rupees in Haj and Umrah vaccination arrangements, as well as deaths of children at PIMS.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Dawn - Pakistan, Dawn, The Express Tribune - Pakistan — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.