Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has launched a movement from Bahawalpur calling for the creation of new provinces and a local government system across the country. He described the campaign as a Marka-e-Khushali, or battle for prosperity.
Addressing a press conference, Durrani said the country should move toward smaller provinces and a robust local government system, which he said is in the public interest. He noted that the British government established the current four provinces, adding, “We did not create them.”
Durrani says new provinces would bring prosperity
Durrani said new provinces would trigger an economic revolution, help eradicate terrorism, reduce government expenditure and make abundant resources available to the masses. He added that smaller administrative units would strengthen local governance and allow young leadership to emerge.
He said barriers are often erected whenever public prosperity is discussed. Durrani stated that the people and state institutions would fight this battle together, and expressed confidence that Bahawalpur, Hazara and South Punjab will ultimately become provinces.
Durrani criticises rulers over dynastic politics and farm policy
Durrani asserted that the country cannot flourish without ending dynastic politics and bringing youth into leadership. He added that dynastic politicians view new provinces as a threat to their survival.
Criticising the current rulers, he called them economic terrorists who have drained the national exchequer. He said the main export had become looted wealth and that the government refuses to buy crops from farmers, leaving them poorer while public debt mounts. Durrani declared that these economic terrorists must be ousted and vowed the movement would not stop.
