RCCI President urges economic focus on Pakistan province debate

Usman Shaukat, President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), has called for the debate regarding new provinces and administrative units in Pakistan to shift from a political focus to an economic and developmental one.

Shaukat emphasized that the primary objective should be addressing regional deprivation, ensuring equitable resource allocation, and improving governance to create economic opportunities. He noted that while the population has grown significantly, disparities in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and public services remain critical concerns.

Rather than focusing solely on the number of provinces, Shaukat argued that the effectiveness of the existing governance structure in delivering resources is the central issue. He suggested that policymakers evaluate the economic cost of deprivation against the costs of administrative restructuring. Furthermore, he noted that creating new provinces may not solve existing challenges unless accompanied by strong, empowered, and adequately resourced local governments that bring decision-making closer to citizens.