Khawaja Asif Supports Smaller Administrative Units, but No Final Decision Has Been Made

The debate over creating new provinces in Pakistan has gained momentum after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed support for establishing up to 12 provinces in the country.

Speaking about the proposal, Khawaja Asif said new provinces should be created on administrative grounds rather than on the basis of language, ethnicity or political interests. He argued that smaller administrative units could help improve governance and bring public services closer to people.

Under the reported proposal, Pakistan’s four existing provinces could be reorganised into 12 units. Punjab could have four provinces, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan could each have three. Sindh could be divided into two provinces.

The proposal is being discussed as part of a broader effort to improve administrative efficiency, distribute development resources more fairly and reduce the concentration of authority in provincial capitals.

A nationwide referendum has also been discussed as a possible step before a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment. However, this remains a reported proposal rather than an approved government plan.

Creating new provinces would require a constitutional process and political support. Any change to provincial boundaries would also need approval from the relevant provincial assembly under the Constitution.

For now, the number of proposed provinces, their boundaries and the process for creating them remain undecided. The debate is continuing among government officials and political parties.