KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday announced plans to initiate a “grand national dialogue” on the creation of new provinces, arguing that Pakistan’s growing population and governance challenges had made administrative restructuring necessary.
Speaking at a press conference alongside senior party leaders, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the party would approach political parties and other stakeholders to develop consensus on creating additional provinces and administrative units across the country.
Siddiqui clarified that the MQM-P was not seeking new provinces only for Karachi or Sindh, saying administrative units should be created wherever population and governance requirements demanded them.
“We need a grand national dialogue on this issue,” he said, urging political parties to set aside differences and discuss the matter in the wider national interest.
He argued that Pakistan’s existing provincial structure had failed to keep pace with demographic changes, with the country’s population increasing significantly while the number of provinces remained unchanged.
Siddiqui maintained that the existing provinces were largely formed on linguistic considerations rather than purely administrative requirements.
The MQM-P chairman said the party’s demand should not be viewed as an attempt to divide the country or target any ethnic or linguistic group.
“We are not saying this only for ourselves. Wherever there is a need for provinces, they should be created,” he said.
He said the MQM-P had previously introduced a bill seeking the creation of provinces and that the proposal was currently before a standing committee. He added that the party was also prepared to approach the Supreme Court over what it described as the failure to implement constitutional provisions relating to the creation of new provinces.
The debate over new provinces has gained renewed momentum after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for additional administrative units and urged political parties to develop consensus on the issue.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, speaking at the press conference, said the MQM-P wanted an administrative system that would give people greater control over their representatives and enable them to replace governments that failed to address their problems.
Kamal said conditions in several parts of Sindh remained poor despite substantial financial allocations, arguing that administrative restructuring could improve governance and representation.
He stressed that the MQM-P was advocating administrative restructuring rather than seeking to divide Sindh or discriminate against its rural population.
“This is not a division; it is a discussion on district administration,” he said.
Kamal also criticised the condition of Karachi’s municipal infrastructure and governance, saying the country’s economic hub faced serious challenges despite its importance to the national economy.
Siddiqui said the party remained committed to Pakistan and was willing to engage with Sindhi political and social groups on the issue.
The MQM-P has repeatedly cited Article 239 of the Constitution in support of its argument that new provinces can be created through a constitutional process.
The renewed demand comes amid a wider debate over whether Pakistan’s existing four-province structure can effectively manage a rapidly growing population and address longstanding governance and administrative challenges.
