The Punjab Bar Council has backed the creation of new and smaller provinces across Pakistan. The council described the proposal as a pressing national requirement amid the growing debate over administrative restructuring.
Chaudhry Arshad Ali Hanjra, chairman of the Punjab Bar Council’s Executive Committee, supported creating additional provinces across the country.
He said smaller provinces should be created from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
However, Hanjra stressed that any decision must reflect the wishes of the people and their elected representatives.
He also urged political parties to move beyond narrow political interests and contribute constructively to the process.
Bar Council Sees Smaller Provinces as Governance Solution
Hanjra said creating new provinces could help address development challenges, particularly in Balochistan.
According to him, new provinces in Balochistan could accelerate development and improve administrative performance.
More broadly, he argued that smaller administrative units could strengthen governance and make public services easier to deliver.
His comments come as political and institutional voices continue debating whether Pakistan’s existing administrative structure can effectively meet public needs.
The Punjab Bar Council chairman also expressed full support for an earlier resolution passed by the Pakistan Bar Council.
That resolution backed the creation of new provinces and called for serious progress on the issue.
New Provinces Debate Gains Political Momentum
The Punjab Bar Council’s position adds another voice to an increasingly prominent national debate over administrative restructuring.
The issue gained fresh attention after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi spoke about the existing system during remarks in Karachi on July 30.
Naqvi described the system as a “failure” and proposed the creation of new administrative units. His remarks subsequently triggered reactions from several political figures and parties.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah also commented on the debate.
Meanwhile, ANP leader Aimal Wali Khan, JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also reacted.
The discussion has therefore expanded beyond one political party or province.
Sindh Division Proposal Faces Opposition
The debate has also produced resistance, particularly in Sindh, where the ruling PPP has opposed dividing the province.
The PPP government in Sindh has moved to table a resolution in the Sindh Assembly against the province’s division.
The development highlights the sharp political differences surrounding proposals for creating smaller provinces.
Supporters argue that smaller administrative units could improve governance and service delivery.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about dividing existing provinces and the political implications of such changes.
The Punjab Bar Council has now added its support to the argument for restructuring the country’s administrative framework.
A Debate Far From Over
The latest statement indicates that the demand for new provinces is no longer limited to political circles.
The legal fraternity has also entered the discussion through the Punjab Bar Council’s endorsement of the proposal.
Hanjra’s comments place particular emphasis on public consent and the role of elected representatives in deciding the issue. He also called for political parties to approach the matter in the broader national interest.
As reactions continue from across the political spectrum, the debate over new provinces appears set to remain a significant national issue.
