Pakistan political leaders debate creation of new provinces

Abdul Aleem Khan, President of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party, has voiced support for the creation of new provinces in Pakistan, citing population growth as a primary driver for administrative necessity. He specifically advocated for the establishment of a Hazara province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed support for new provinces in South Punjab and Bahawalpur. Khan argued that dividing existing provinces into smaller administrative units would improve service delivery to the public and urged politicians to treat this as a national issue rather than a political tool.

However, the proposal raises significant economic concerns regarding the fiscal impact on Pakistan's economy. Establishing a new province involves substantial administrative costs, estimated between 50 billion and 150 billion PKR for initial setup, excluding recurring annual expenditures. A new provincial structure requires the creation of various institutions, including a Governor House, Chief Minister's Secretariat, provincial assembly, high court benches, and multiple government departments such as finance, police, and revenue. Critics note that these costs come at a time when Pakistan's national debt exceeds 85 trillion PKR, questioning whether new provinces can become self-sustaining or if they will merely increase the burden on the national budget.