QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti Supports Creation of New Provinces on administrative rather than ethnic or linguistic grounds, saying larger provinces need improved governance structures to ensure effective administration.
Speaking to journalists in Quetta on Saturday, Bugti said the formation of new provinces should be considered on the basis of administrative requirements and public interest. He argued that managing the vast province of Balochistan entirely from Quetta presents significant challenges.
Sarfaraz Bugti Supports Creation of New Provinces for Better Governance
Bugti stressed that any decision to establish additional provinces or administrative units should focus on improving governance instead of dividing regions along ethnic, linguistic or cultural lines.
His remarks come as Pakistan continues to debate possible changes to its administrative structure. The issue has gained attention among political parties, with coalition partners Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressing different views on the creation of new provinces and administrative units.
The debate intensified in July after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticised the existing governance system and called for structural reforms. He proposed creating new administrative units with greater powers delegated to lower levels of government.
Naqvi later clarified that his comments about the system’s deterioration referred to developments over several decades rather than the performance of any particular government.
Debate Over Pakistan’s Administrative Structure
The discussion gained further momentum after reports emerged about a proposal concerning the administrative setup of the Islamabad Capital Territory.
According to a report cited by Geo News, a high-level committee had submitted a draft proposal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a 27-member elected assembly for Islamabad. The proposed structure would be headed by a chief executive and supported by 27 administrative departments.
Naqvi has also maintained that the creation of new administrative units should reflect the wishes of the people. He described the current situation as requiring a “system reset”, while clarifying that such a reset would mean correcting weaknesses rather than dismantling the existing system.
Also Read: Parliamentary Debate on New Provinces to Be Held in October
Meanwhile, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for a national debate on Pakistan’s administrative structure and proposed increasing the number of provinces to between 12 and 15.
Bugti Rejects Talks with Militants
During his interaction with journalists, Bugti also discussed the security situation in Pakistan. He said the country’s civil and military leadership remained united in its position against terrorism.
The Balochistan chief minister ruled out negotiations with individuals who take up arms against the state. He maintained that terrorism should not be viewed solely as a Balochistan issue, describing it as a challenge affecting the entire country.
Bugti’s comments on new provinces add another political voice to an increasingly active national discussion about whether Pakistan’s administrative system requires restructuring to improve governance, service delivery and representation.
