Prioritizing New Provinces: A Call for Consensus
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has urged a focus on creating new provinces where a clear consensus already exists. This statement arrives amid speculation about potential administrative divisions driven by proposals that could empower local governments.
While rumours swirl about the introduction of constitutional amendments, particularly concerning a potential Karachi province, Mr. Bhutto-Zardari highlighted an existing resolution in the Punjab Assembly for South Punjab. He emphasized that this cross-party agreement in the National Assembly should be the priority.
“Before talking about 20 new provinces, let’s start where everyone already agrees,” Mr. Bhutto-Zardari stated, as reported by SindhNews.com. He indicated that immediate action on this front might not be imminent.
The demand for smaller provinces isn’t new; it often stems from public dissatisfaction with the limited effectiveness of established local government systems. Constitutional mandates for devolving power to these bodies have seen limited implementation. Political parties often maintain a stance where Local Governments remain underdeveloped, according to SindhNews.com analysis.
While comparisons of local government structures between provinces like Sindh and Punjab are made, the effectiveness of these systems in truly adhering to constitutional spirit is debatable. Creating smaller administrative units alone is unlikely to resolve governance issues and could potentially worsen them.
Altering historical provincial boundaries without substantial public demand is a politically sensitive matter. The true solution to governance challenges and service delivery lies in strengthening local democracy and devolving powers as constitutionally envisioned. However, any genuine popular demand for new administrative units should be thoroughly debated and assessed for consensus.