In the past few weeks, much has been made about the creation of new provinces in Pakistan. Political parties and politicians are also talking about new provinces. One cannot be sure whether they are point-scoring since elections are coming or they are serious about the issue.
Can we expect our politicians to deliver on this front as the process for creating new provinces is long and cumbersome. Not only does it require meticulous and detailed planning, it also requires generating consensus on the national and provincial level. Can the current lot come through on such important requirements?
Instead, I am worried that they will make a hatchet job of it. These new provinces instead of creating administrative efficiency and fostering federative cohesion might just do the opposite. I am worried that if new provinces will be made, they will just become drains on the national exchequers as the state apparatus set up there such as CM house, Governor house, assemblies etc will also have the extravagant expenses the current ones have.
The creation of new provinces will only help Pakistan if the exercise is undertaken carefully with the requisite planning. Otherwise, it will only add to our already long list of problems.
MUBASHIR MAHMOOD
Karachi
