Balanced development and fair resource distribution: Speakers want new provinces created

ABBOTTABAD: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday called for the creation of new administrative provinces to ensure balanced development, fair resource distribution, and the emergence of new leadership.

The event, titled “Imagine Pakistan 2030 - Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward,” was held at Abbottabad International Medical College under the auspices of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP). It drew students, academics, and professionals.

Educationists Mian Amir Mehmood and Abdul Rehman were among the keynote speakers.They argued that Pakistan’s current administrative structure no longer reflects its demographic realities - noting that despite a population surge from 30 million at independence to over 250 million today, the country still comprises only four provinces.

The speakers criticized political parties for failing to act on their own commitments to decentralization.They pointed out that while the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have each, at various times, supported the idea of new provinces, none have translated these pledges into policy.

Comparing Pakistan with other countries, the speakers noted that the United States has 50 states, China 31 provinces, Indonesia 34, Brazil 36, and Mexico 31 - all of which expanded administrative units to achieve regional balance and improve governance.

In contrast, they observed that Pakistan’s development remains concentrated in major cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, leaving most districts underdeveloped.Citing IMF findings, they warned that only a handful of urban centers have experienced meaningful progress, while the rest of the country faces stagnation, unemployment, and migration pressures.

The speakers stressed the need for honest and capable leadership from the middle class to guide Pakistan toward genuine reform and stability.The participants highlighted that Punjab, home to over half of Pakistan’s population, has seen most of its progress confined to Lahore, while the demand for a Hazara province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to grow.

The speakers concluded that forming smaller provinces was essential for sustainable growth, national unity, and equitable governance.The session ended with an interactive discussion, followed by the distribution of shields by Dr. Ghazanfar, Managing Director of Abbottabad International Medical College.