Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said that small provinces will “definitely” be created.
Addressing the workers’ convention of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) in Sheikhupura on Sunday evening, the federal minister said the move would help strengthen “administrative control” and provide better services to citizens.
Creating three provinces each in Sindh and Punjab would benefit the public, he said, adding that three provinces could also be formed in each of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
“All neighboring countries around us have several small provinces,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – a key ally of the PML-N at the center – has long strongly opposed the idea of new provinces.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had warned last month that the PPP would not accept any move against his province’s or Pakistan’s interests.
CM Murad’s remarks came days after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had indicated that it would use all legal and democratic means to seek new provinces through the looming 28th Amendment.
CM Murad had said, “Stop worrying about rumors about the creation of new provinces and the division of Sindh.”
Earlier, the Sindh CM had outright rejected discussions on creation of new provinces, saying, “The talk of new provinces – listen from one ear and let it go out from the other except Allah, no one has the power to divide Sindh.”
Speaking on the occasion, the minister praised Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying that under his leadership, the Pakistan Army had inflicted a humiliating defeat on India.
Earlier this year, Pakistan and India engaged in a military standoff, the worst between the old enemies in decades, which was sparked by a terrorist attack on tourists in the IIOJK’s Pahalgam area, which New Delhi claimed was supported by Pakistan.
Islamabad denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 men, and offered to participate in a neutral inquiry into the deadly incident.
During the clashes, Pakistan shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a cease-fire agreement brokered by the United States.
