The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) declared on Sunday its intention to initiate a comprehensive national dialogue regarding the creation of new provinces. The party highlighted the urgent need for administrative restructuring in response to Pakistan’s rapidly expanding population and the resulting governance challenges.
During a press conference in Karachi, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui emphasized that the party would engage with political entities and relevant stakeholders to foster consensus on establishing additional provinces and administrative units nationwide. He clarified that the demand was not confined to Karachi or Sindh but extended to any region where population growth and governance issues necessitate new administrative divisions.
Siddiqui called for political parties to put aside differences and prioritize the national interest through this dialogue. He pointed out that Pakistan’s current provincial framework has not evolved in tandem with demographic changes, noting the country’s significant population increase while the number of provinces has remained static. Meanwhile, the count of districts and other administrative units has risen considerably.
The MQM-P leader argued that the provinces were originally formed primarily on linguistic bases rather than administrative needs, a stance the party has maintained for over four decades. He warned that the failure to adapt the administrative structure alongside population growth has led to severe governance problems.
Reiterating that the demand for new provinces is not aimed at dividing the country or targeting any ethnic group, Siddiqui stressed that provinces should be created wherever justified by population and administrative requirements. The MQM-P had supported the 18th Amendment, believing it would enhance democratic benefits and decentralization across Pakistan.
He also noted that the constitutional framework already provides mechanisms for creating new provinces, questioning why raising this issue is considered controversial. Siddiqui mentioned a bill introduced by the MQM-P for new provinces that is currently under review by a standing committee. Furthermore, the party is prepared to approach the Supreme Court over the lack of implementation of constitutional provisions related to provincial creation.
The MQM-P expressed readiness to collaborate with political parties and support any movement advocating for new provinces, including in Karachi. Siddiqui emphasized that the need for new provinces is particularly pressing in Sindh, where population and administrative demands are greatest.
In recent weeks, the debate over new provinces has intensified, especially following Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s call for additional administrative units and a political consensus on the matter. MQM-P leaders have endorsed this proposal, while former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has also urged broader governance reforms, cautioning that simply creating provinces will not solve structural issues.
Addressing the press conference, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal highlighted the MQM-P’s vision for a system empowering citizens to hold their representatives accountable and replace ineffective governments. He pointed out that many regions in Sindh suffer from poor governance and deprivation, conditions worse than those in Karachi and Hyderabad, which have been endured for generations.
Kamal questioned why, despite receiving approximately Rs22 trillion over the past 18 years, Sindh continues to face significant governance and development challenges. He clarified that the party advocates administrative restructuring rather than dividing Sindh or discriminating against rural populations. The creation of new administrative units, he argued, would empower Sindhis rather than harm their interests.
Kamal, Karachi and Hyderabad together comprise about 43 percent of Sindh’s population, and establishing additional administrative units would enhance political and administrative representation across the province. He also criticized Karachi’s municipal infrastructure and governance, describing the city as one of the most challenging places to live despite its status as the economic hub of Pakistan.
Kamal referenced recent statements by Interior Minister Naqvi and the military’s media chief, Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif, supporting the need for more administrative units. He emphasized that the MQM-P had long raised this issue but was previously ignored. Now, there appears to be a growing acknowledgment among national leaders that administrative restructuring is essential for improved governance.
He supported the statements made by Naqvi and the DG ISPR, noting that smaller administrative units would increase government accountability, allowing even rural citizens to influence provincial leadership.
In a significant development, Siddiqui addressed concerns that creating new provinces might threaten national unity. He affirmed MQM-P’s commitment to Pakistan and denied any intention to abandon the country, referencing the party’s roots in the migration of Muslims at Partition. Siddiqui also acknowledged the history of Sindh and the settlement of migrants, rejecting claims that the MQM-P had occupied anyone’s land.
He expressed willingness to engage with Sindhi political and social groups and welcomed those who support the party’s position. The MQM-P has consistently cited Article 239 of the Constitution to justify the creation of new provinces through legal means. Earlier this year, the party condemned a Sindh Assembly resolution opposing a Karachi province, calling it unconstitutional since the Constitution itself outlines the process for altering provincial boundaries.
This renewed push by MQM-P occurs amid a broader national debate about whether Pakistan’s current four-province structure remains effective in governing a considerably larger population than when the provinces were initially established.
