PESHAWAR—Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for a debate on new administrative units rather than new provinces, arguing that the country should also strengthen the transfer of powers to local governments.
Speaking to the media, Asif said the current discussion focuses on administrative units and does not necessarily involve creating new provinces.
He said Pakistan could retain Islamabad as a federal territory rather than convert it into a province. He also suggested that the country could consider creating one or two additional federal territories under direct federal administration.
The debate over new administrative units comes as questions about governance, decentralisation and the distribution of political and administrative powers continue to shape Pakistan’s political discourse.
Asif said the implementation of the 18th Amendment should remain central to any discussion about administrative reform. He argued that the devolution of powers should move further towards district and municipal governments.
The minister said the 18th Amendment transferred significant powers from the centre to the provinces, but its broader objective of strengthening governance at lower levels still requires further implementation.
The proposal for new administrative units also carries political implications because the creation of provinces can affect representation, resources and political influence. Asif acknowledged that political parties and leaders may hold different views depending on their regions.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had not formally adopted a unified position on the issue, although individual party leaders had expressed their views.
Rather than focusing solely on provincial boundaries, Asif said Pakistan should consider administrative arrangements that can improve governance and bring decision-making closer to citizens.
The debate over new administrative units is therefore closely linked to the larger question of how Pakistan can make local government more effective while maintaining a workable federal structure.
