MQM-P calls for national dialogue on creating new provinces

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday called for the creation of new provinces across the country according to population and administrative needs, saying Sindh has the strongest case for new provinces.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters alongside leaders Syed Mustafa Kamal, Farooq Sattar, and Anis Kaimkhani, the Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddique stated that new provinces should be created based on national need.

The MQM-P Chairman said the demand was not driven by the party’s organisational or political interests but by what he described as a broader national need.

Siddiqui said Pakistan’s existing provinces had largely been formed on linguistic grounds, while population had continued to grow without corresponding administrative changes. He called for a dialogue among political parties on the issue, urging them to set aside political interests.

Article 140A provides for an elected local government system and gives provincial governments responsibility for establishing and devolving political, administrative and financial authority to local governments.

Siddiqui said there is no logic in opposition to new provinces, as the Constitution itself provides a legal framework for doing so. “If creating a province was treason, then how is it mentioned in the Constitution?” he asked.

Siddiqui said the provision for creating new provinces already existed in the 1973 Constitution and should be implemented rather than removed.

He added that MQM-P had raised the issue in the National Assembly and that the matter had been referred to the relevant standing committee, which had begun considering it.

The MQM-P leader said political parties should move beyond their political interests and initiate a national dialogue on the creation of new provinces. “We support every voice raised for provinces,” Siddiqui said, adding that his party was ready to engage with other political parties on the issue.

Mustafa Kamal said the creation of new administrative units would help address deprivation and improve governance, particularly in Sindh. He argued that new provinces would also benefit farmers and other communities by bringing administration closer to the people.

Kamal said Sindh had received substantial federal resources over the years but continued to face serious problems in providing basic services. He called for a fairer distribution of resources and a more effective administrative system, saying greater decentralisation would enable people to address their problems more effectively.

Kamal stressed that the creation of new provinces would not mean dividing the country. He said it was an administrative arrangement and that “not even an inch” of Sindh’s land would be transferred to another province.

He also called for a constitutional amendment to empower local governments, saying decentralisation of authority was essential for effective governance.

Kamal claimed that political parties had previously agreed to strengthen local governments through a constitutional amendment but alleged that the proposed changes were later blocked.

He said the prime minister and other political parties had agreed that the issue would be addressed through a future constitutional amendment.

Farooq Sattar also backed the creation of additional administrative units, saying development and stability in Pakistan would remain difficult without reforms to the existing administrative structure.

He called for measures to reduce poverty, unemployment and inflation and said citizens should be provided greater security and opportunities to live with dignity.

The MQM-P leaders reiterated that political parties should set aside their political interests and engage in dialogue over the creation of new provinces and administrative units to improve governance and ensure that powers reach the people.