The need for more provinces resulted in the need for the eighteenth amendment of the Pakistani constitution in the year. The constitutional amendment saw the countrys resources devolved to the province levels. Since then, the Pakistani leadership has been calling for more amendments to create more administrative unitsprovinces (Hussain & Kokab, 81). Turkey is the country that has a substantial number of, administrative units, 81, followed by the United States with 50, then China with 34, and India with 28 administrative units in addition to seven union territories. In this paper, we will discuss the essence of Pakistan having more administrative units and its implications.
The proponents of the need to create more provinces in Pakistan allude that countries with many administrative units perform well economically (Zulfqar, 150). The claim is supported by the united states, while China and India are purported to be the world's economic hubs. The emerging markets in the Asian continent are politically endorsed with well-rooted mechanisms to ensure the countries' economic prospects are achieved, earning them a spot in the global economic charts.
Pakistani political players are on the forefront to have more administrative units. Political parties in Pakistan are province-based as exemplified by PPP that is only limited to Sindh, MQM is a Karachi-based party, PML(N) being a Punjab based party while PTI has not tested itself on the national level (Zulfqar, 150). Therefore, the question of whether advocating for more provinces is based on ethnolinguistic lines or administrative foundations. Politicians are the only lot that champions for the need for more provinces with no other groups interested. For instance, In Karachi, they are advocating for a new province for Hazaras as they argue that the current governor hailing from Hazara has weakened the KPK movement.
The demand for new provinces has been witnessed in Balochistan (Pashtun Belt) where the Pashtun speaking people want a province of their own. Secondly, in Sindh, the Sindhi population are demanding for the division of the Karachi and Urdu speaking provinces. Thirdly, is KPK's demand for the Hazara province as they want to earn more like royalties from dams, hydropower projects and minerals. Punjab, an agro-based province, people are proposing to have Saraiki and Bahawalpur provinces to get a share of allocations from the federal reserves.
The Need for More Provinces
The proponents for more provinces justify their claims by alleging that devolving resources and having more provinces will result in substantial economic growth. They argue that it will provide a solution to poor governance, the ineffectiveness of the local governments and will reduce the distance from the provincial capitals. An example is in the case of more voices seeking the for the division of provinces and having more provinces like the Hazara and Seraikis provinces.
It is argued that more provincial administrative units would probably put an end to ethnic conflicts. More administrative units would harbour Punjab from over dominating the lesser federating units by giving them a stake administratively (Zulfqar, 147). Besides, the minority groups social, political and economic grievances would be addressed at the provincial levels ending the narrative of marginalisation at the national level. Some politicians and analysts allude that smaller provinces will create a conducive environment that will help the devolved systems to thrive economically.
Proponents for more provincial units are encouraged by countries with countries with many administrative units like their neighbours India and China in the Asian continent. The states have many administrative units but are thriving administratively and economically (Zulfqar, 151). Some people feel that they are isolated in the provinces they are in at the moment geographically or ethnically. Some groups think that they are marginalised deeming themselves as the minority. Getting themselves a new province, will make themselves empowered and consider themselves a significant majority (Hussain & Kokab, 83).
Advocating for more provinces is attributed to the fact that Pakistans demography is structurally divided hence the need for more provinces. Another reason is that having smaller provinces makes federations and political parties more bargaining power. The need for smaller provinces has become a well-cultivated culture after the 18th amendment of the Pakistani constitution in 2010 that could eventually result in the administrative units even demanding a separation from Pakistan.
Reasons for Opposing the Need for More Provinces
Division of the country to yield many provinces is argued by many as the recipe for dividing the country further by ethnic lines. Zulfqar (149), ethnic divisions result in high political and ethnic temperatures that can result in violence at any time when one group feels that they are offended by another. Besides, it would make it difficult for people to coexist and integrate once they only know that they are supposed to be affiliated with some ethnic or political group.
Once a new province is created, it sets precedence as others would love to have their province. In remanding for a new province, those advocating for a new province will be referring to the fact that there is a newly born province (Zulfqar, 148). Some reasons for proposing to have a new province are petty, most of them based on ethnicity as others are as a result of political greed and trying to fulfil personal interests. The reason is that Pakistan is a victim of ethnic divisions and sectarian. Any attempt to create a new province on a tribal or ethnic basis will trigger the nearly healed political, social and economic problems the country is solving.
Pakistan is a war-prone country that has damaged the socio-economic sector (Khattak & Soherwordi, 143). It will be unfair to plunge the state into another crisis as it is spending much of its revenues in fighting terror wars and terrorist groups. Besides, the country has spent more than one hundred and seven billion dollars (united states currency) in the war against terrorism. Thus the need not burden the country with ethnic violence.
Pakistanis are naturally status quo people and do not desire to have any newer provincial units in the future. The need for new administrative units like in the case of Karachi and Baluchistan do not need to be urgently addressed (Khattak & Soherwordi, 143). The reason is that they do not satisfy the need to play with the countrys sensitive cards. Besides, the country's revenues are collected and distributed to the provinces by the country's central government. Although it is a matter of contention between the federation and the provinces, the state is working on higher and equitable resource allocation to the provinces as demanded by the provinces. Uneven resource allocation is the reason for having newer administrative units, but the problem can be solved by the existing standoff between the National Finance Commission (NFC), The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and other agencies in the contentious matter. If there is division in places like Punjab, then there will be a more significant problem of resource distribution in a vast network. Lastly, expenditure in the new provinces would increase the manifolds.
Therefore, it is essential to understand that before debunking for new provinces, the minority Urdu and Hindko speaking are economically well off than the majority groups. Secondly, the minority feel marginalised only in Punjab but could be solved by allocating mega-projects in minority residential areas. Thirdly, Seraikis elected a separation averse person in the 2013 election petting their push for separation unclear. Fourth, based on family trees and relationships, ethnic lines and languages spoken in Punjab, ethnicity is less stark (Zulfqar, 148). Lastly, the 18th constitutional amendment is a hurdle to the creation of new provinces citing the provisions of Article 239(4). It states that a bill to amend the constitution by altering the limits of a province should not be assented by the President unless it attained a two-thirds majority vote in the provincial assembly (Zulfuqar, 150; Hussain & Kokab, 83).
It is therefore recommended to seek legal guidelines and reforms on matters affecting provinces. Besides, it is essential that the political and administrative work concurrently with economic sectors ensure sustainable development across the country even in the marginalised regions to avoid the need for creating newer provinces as provided for by the 18th constitutional amendment of 2010. NFC should harmoniously work to ensure equitable and sufficient allocation in all Pakistani provinces.
In conclusion, it is evident that political, ethnic and personal interests are the main reasons why people seek to have new provinces. Ethnic divisions, violence and the need to solve the problems resulting in the need for provincial divisions using the judiciary and harmonious agreements are the reasons for opposing. Therefore, it is necessary to envisage what having new provinces, to evaluate the implications both positive and negative on Pakistan.
Works Cited
Hussain, M. & Kokab, B. (2012). Eighteenth amendment to the constitution: success and controversies. Asian Social Science, 8(1):81-88.
Khattak, S. A. & Soherwordi, S. H. (2014). The creation of new provinces and its implication for an integrated country. JRSP, 51(1): 139-155.
Zulfuqar. (2012). Politics of new provinces in Pakistan: prospects and challenges. Islamabad Policy Research Institute Journal, 12(2):146-152.
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