ISLAMABAD: National Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution to create a new province for the people of Southern Punjab.

Adopted with a majority vote amidst protest by the opposition, the resolution has called upon the Punjab Government for legislation under the constitution to ask the federal government for amendment in the constitution to create a new province for the people of Southern Punjab.

The resolution was moved to the House by Minister for Law and Justice, Farooq H Naek and mentioned to the miseries of the people of South Punjab.

"The House hereby resolves that in order to address the grievances and to secure the political administrative and economic interests of the people in the Southern region of the province of the Punjab and to empower them in this regard, it is expedient that a new province to be known as Province of Janoobi Punjab be created from the present province of the Punjab," said the resolution read out by the Law Minister.

"This House thus calls upon the provincial assembly of the Punjab to present a bill in the Punjab Assembly to amend the constitution in accordance with the article 239 (4) of the constitution, for passage which would have the effect of altering the limits of province of Punjab, thereby creating province of Janoobi Punjab," the resolution added.

The resolution stated that a new province for the people in Southern Punjab had become imperative to ensure their just political and democratic right as to safeguard their economic interests.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012