When Pakistan came into existence, its population was much smaller than it is today. Although resources were limited, the country’s cities, districts and administrative requirements were also relatively modest. Over the decades, Pakistan’s population has multiplied, major cities have expanded into large urban centres, and new districts and tehsils have emerged. Yet the basic provincial structure has remained largely unchanged.

Today, Pakistan’s population has crossed 240 million. According to the 2023 Census, Punjab has approximately 127.7 million people, Sindh 55.7 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 40.9 million and Balochistan around 14.9 million. These figures are not merely statistics; they raise an important question: Is Pakistan’s existing administrative structure capable of effectively serving such a large and growing population?

The debate over new provinces should therefore move beyond election slogans and become part of a serious national policy discussion.

The debate over new provinces should therefore move beyond election slogans and become part of a serious national policy discussion.

In my view, Pakistan needs new provinces not based on ethnicity, language or regional prejudice, but purely for better administration, economic development and public welfare.

Punjab is Pakistan’s largest province, with more than half of the country’s population. Managing a population of over 127 million from a single provincial capital is a major administrative challenge. Lahore is undoubtedly a major administrative, commercial, industrial and........

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