ISLAMABAD : Senior journalist and TV anchor Muhammad Malik has made a startling claim that Pakistan is set to undergo a major administrative overhaul, with 15 to 18 new provinces to be formed across the country, while the port area will be brought under federal control.
Speaking on his ARY News program, Malik asserted that the decision has already been made, though he acknowledged that creating an environment for such a massive restructuring would take at least a year. “No one is in a hurry,” he said, adding that provinces will eventually be formed.
Malik argued strongly in favor of smaller administrative units, stating that the country’s current system is unsustainable. “The country will not survive now,” he warned, describing the existing governance structure as a “ship for 12, 12 rupees” — a colloquial expression suggesting inefficiency and waste.
He painted a grim picture of governance in other provinces, claiming corruption has reached its peak. Malik cited figures shared by Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, alleging that two and a half to three thousand billion rupees were siphoned off to Dubai.
This allegation echoes recent statements by Rana Sanaullah, who has publicly accused political opponents of massive corruption, claiming that Sindh received Rs3 trillion over 15 years that was allegedly funneled to Dubai .
Malik further claimed that the local government system will not be introduced, and administrative matters will stop at the provincial level. Instead, the focus will be on creating smaller provinces as the primary solution to governance challenges.
He suggested that the formation of new provinces would take approximately one year to materialize, with no immediate rush to implement the changes.
Malik’s claims stand in stark contrast to recent statements by government officials. Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has repeatedly ruled out any government proposal to create new provinces, maintaining that Pakistan’s existing parliamentary system and constitutional framework remain effective .
Sanaullah has stated that the PML-N has neither held discussions nor considered any proposal on the matter, emphasizing that the real challenge lies in implementing constitutional principles rather than introducing structural changes .
The debate over new provinces has nevertheless intensified following recent remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who declared that Pakistan’s administrative structure had “collapsed” and called for carving out smaller administrative units . While the ruling PML-N has not officially endorsed any specific division, coalition allies such as the MQM-P and IPP have backed the idea .
The proposal has drawn resistance from various quarters. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ruled out any division of Sindh, noting that the Sindh Assembly has repeatedly passed unanimous resolutions opposing any division of the province . He emphasized that creating a new province requires a two-thirds majority resolution in the provincial assembly concerned .
The Pakistan Bar Council has approved a resolution on the creation of new provinces, declaring that any move must be carried out strictly in accordance with the Constitution, parliamentary procedure, and national consensus .
