Pakistan is among countries, which have a weak management system and inefficiency. The growing population of Pakistan has stressed upon the need for the creation of new provinces. A population of almost 190 million people cannot be accommodated in four provinces. As a result, the provincial administrations are failing to provide adequate services to the civilians. Sohail Mahmood, in his book, The Musharraf Regime and the Governance Crisis: A Case Study of the Government of Pakistan says: Pakistan has few provinces to becoming a balanced federation… the number of constituent units in a federation does have a substantial impact on its effectiveness and operation. More provinces would, therefore, ensure that there is not only an equitable distribution of income, but the inflow of migrants towards large, developed cities like Lahore, Quetta, Karachi, and Peshawar is also reduced. Moreover, developmental planning, implementation, administration, and management could be made better. There is a huge disconnect between the rulers and the ruled. Further, the impact of steps taken by the government hardly trickles down to the grassroots level. The participation of locals in development efforts is minimal. New provinces would also make it easier for the tax accumulation authorities to gather the tax. This could lead to an increase in the tax revenue, hence reducing government budget deficits. Furthermore, the creation of new provinces would also improve the electoral system. The credibility of elections in Pakistan has always been questioned. Modern provinces would enable the best administration during the elections and minimize the chances of rigging. Brand new assemblies would be created, and larger constituencies could be split into smaller constituencies resulting in an in a superior way representation of peoples’ voice of underdeveloped areas.
Secondly, the creation of new provinces would help fairly distribute the resources among different regions of Pakistan. The wants of people are unlimited, but the resources to satisfy those wanted are limited. This concept also applies to the provinces of Pakistan in which each of the districts wants maximum resources. The conflict arises when provincial governments do not distribute the resources equitably.
It is known from the fact that metropolitan cities of any province, e.g. Lahore get a huge proportion of the funds available while the smaller cities are ignored. The total budget for Punjab in 2009-10 was 490 billion out of which only 5 billion was allocated for Saraiki areas. This disparity in the distribution of resources and funds is the primary reason behind the demand for new provinces. One of the major reasons why Bangladesh separated from Pakistan in 1971 was also an unequal distribution of resources. If the new provinces are created, then there is a greater probability that resources are likely to trickle down more equitably to other areas. Furthermore, there is a higher probability of the resources being spent in the right place since the bureaucracy and administration will be more localized. So, the creation of new provinces would not only help distribute the resources fairly but also reduce resource-based conflicts.
Creation of new provinces would also boost economic development and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by expanding the scope of economic activities in Pakistan. Foreign investors could be attracted to the developmental projects in the newly created provinces. Large multinational companies could open their outlets in cities, which were previously ignored due to a larger province. Adding fresh provinces means that a few more cities would come under the circumference of administration, which would enable the government to create greater job opportunities for its people and eliminate the increasing socio-economic dissimilarities in various regions of the country. Modern provinces would make administration efficient, ensure that people do not have to travel long distances to get justice. Each new province would have opportunities for its particular industrial growth, and the resources could be more focused. For example, South Punjab, already famous for its cotton and small scale craft industry, could differentiate in the area. The living standards of people in these areas would increase and hence, improve the overall economy of Pakistan.
Creation of new provinces has always remained a matter of great concern for Pakistan. New provinces would only be beneficial if they are made on an administrative basis rather than an ethno linguistic basis. The government needs to consider the concerns of the people rather than their political maneuvering and exploitation of voters. New provinces would surely increase harmony and administrative efficiency. Ultimately, the objective of all politics – more provinces or fewer provinces – is to improve the wellbeing of the people. Is there a more worthwhile aim? So, the creation of new provinces in Pakistan is the need of the hour, which would not only improve the economy but also make the administration easier.
Editor's note: There should be a commission to create new provinces like India based on population and other requirements.Ayyb Kha's one unit formula had develop sense of deprivations among then NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan
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