- The minister says new provinces will strengthen administrative control.
- KP and Balochistan could be divided into three provinces each: Minister.
- The minister says that neighboring countries have several small provinces.
SHEIKHUPURA: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has said that small provinces will “definitely” be created.
Addressing the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) workers’ congress in Sheikhupura on Sunday evening, the federal minister said the move would help strengthen “administrative control” and provide better services to citizens.
The creation of three provinces each in Sindh and Punjab would benefit the public, he said, adding that three provinces could also be created in each of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
“All the neighboring countries around us have several small provinces,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – a key ally of the PML-N at the center – has long strongly opposed the idea of new provinces.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had warned last month that the PPP would not accept any measures that go against the interests of his province or Pakistan.
CM Murad’s remarks came days after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) indicated that it would use all legal and democratic means to seek new provinces through the impending 28th Amendment.
CM Murad had said, “Stop worrying about rumors about creation of new provinces and division of Sindh. »
Earlier, the Sindh CM had outright rejected discussions on creation of new provinces, saying: “Discussions on new provinces – listen with one ear and let it pass with the other, except Allah, no one has the power to divide Sindh. »
Speaking on the occasion, the minister congratulated Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying that under his leadership, the Pakistan Army had inflicted a humiliating defeat on India.
Earlier this year, Pakistan and India engaged in a military confrontation, the worst between the old enemies in decades, triggered by a terrorist attack on tourists in the IIOJK’s Pahalgam region, which New Delhi said was backed by Pakistan.
Islamabad has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 men, and has offered to participate in a neutral investigation into the deadly incident.
During the clashes, Pakistan shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
