Muhammad Amanullah | August 17, 2026
The True Post (Web News) — The demand for new provinces in Pakistan is not a new issue, but the country’s growing population, complex administrative challenges and weakening governance capacity have once again brought the debate into the national spotlight.
The fundamental question is not whether Pakistan has too few provinces or Russia has too many federal units. The real question is how effectively the state can deliver governance and services to ordinary citizens.
Comparing Russia and Pakistan
Russia is the world’s largest country by land area and operates through 89 federal subjects. Pakistan, meanwhile, has a population of more than 241 million according to the 2023 census but remains primarily divided into four major provinces.
The purpose of comparing the two countries should not be to copy Russia’s system. Their geography, history, political systems and federal structures are fundamentally different.
However, Russia’s administrative model demonstrates that dividing a large country into relatively smaller and more manageable administrative units does not necessarily weaken the federation.
Punjab’s Population Raises a Major Question
Punjab receives particular attention because the province had a population of approximately 127.7 million according to the 2023 census.
Providing consistent standards of healthcare, education, policing, agriculture, industry, transportation and urban planning to such a large population under one provincial government is a significant administrative challenge.
Similar challenges exist in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, although the nature of those challenges differs because of their geography and demographic characteristics.
Large Provinces, Greater Administrative Burden
One of the major problems with the existing system is the administrative distance between provincial capitals and remote districts.
For many citizens, even routine government services can involve multiple offices and lengthy procedures.
Smaller administrative units could potentially improve government access, speed up decision-making and strengthen the ability of authorities to understand and address local problems.
However, simply increasing the number of provinces would not solve the problem. If new provinces developed the same centralized structures that exist in the current provinces, ordinary citizens might see little real improvement.
Why Mohsin Naqvi’s Statement Matters
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s invitation to political parties to discuss ways of improving governance and considering new administrative units or provinces has brought the issue back into the national political debate.
However, the discussion should move beyond political slogans and be based on population, geography, economic viability, resources and public needs.
If a new province is created primarily for political interests or electoral calculations, it could create another administrative problem rather than solve an existing one.
The Proposal to Turn Every Division into a Province
Another proposal that has repeatedly emerged in Pakistan is to transform existing divisions into provinces.
One advantage of this idea is that existing administrative structures could provide a foundation for new units.
However, turning every division into a province would not necessarily be the right formula. Some divisions may not be economically viable, while others may have large geographical areas but relatively small populations.
Different regions also face different challenges related to natural resources, water and infrastructure.
Therefore, applying a single formula across the entire country would not necessarily be a wise approach.
New Provinces or a Stronger Local Government System?
One of the most important aspects of the debate is Pakistan’s local government system.
If new provinces are created but powers are simply transferred from existing provincial capitals to new provincial capitals, ordinary citizens may not experience much change.
The real reform would come from giving elected governments at the district, tehsil, city and union council levels meaningful authority and financial resources.
Issues such as water supply, sanitation, local roads, primary healthcare, primary education and urban planning should have strong local government involvement.
The Cost of Creating New Provinces
The potential increase in government expenditure is another major concern.
If every new province requires a new governor’s house, chief minister’s house, assembly complex, ministers, advisers, official vehicles and a large bureaucracy, administrative reform could become an expensive exercise.
On the other hand, existing government buildings could be utilized, while smaller cabinets, streamlined assemblies and modern digital systems could help control the cost of creating new administrative units.
A National Commission Could Be the Better Way Forward
In my view, Pakistan should not immediately announce the creation of eight, ten or twelve provinces.
A powerful national commission should first be established to develop different administrative models based on population, geography, economic capacity, resources, administrative distance and public opinion.
The commission could examine eight-, ten- and twelve-province models, along with the proposal to turn divisions into provinces, and conduct detailed financial and administrative assessments.
The complete data should then be presented before Parliament and the public.
The Real Goal Is to Bring Government Closer to the People
The debate over new provinces should be moved away from ethnic or linguistic politics and turned into a discussion about governance.
The objective should not be to weaken an existing province or create new political positions. The goal should be to bring the state closer to ordinary citizens.
Pakistan does not need 89 federal units like Russia. But it is reasonable to ask whether the existing administrative structure is capable of meeting the needs of a country with more than 240 million people.
If new provinces are accompanied by a strong local government system, fair distribution of resources, controlled administrative expenditure and a clear constitutional process, administrative restructuring could strengthen rather than weaken Pakistan’s federation.
Ultimately, success should not be measured by the number of provinces. It should be measured by whether ordinary citizens feel that government has become closer, faster and more accountable.
