Communications Minister Aleem Khan on Sunday said smaller provinces will “definitely be created” in Pakistan, claiming this will improve governance and service delivery.
Addressing an Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) workers’ convention in Sheikhupura, he said carving out three provinces each from Sindh and Punjab would benefit the public. Three provinces each could also be carved out of Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he said, noting Pakistan’s neighboring countries have several small provinces.
In recent months, speculation over the formation of new provinces has ramped up, though not all political parties agree with the proposal. Ruling coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which has governments in Sindh and Balochistan, has particularly opposed any attempt to divide Sindh into multiple provinces despite longstanding calls for Karachi to be declared a separate province.
During his address, Aleem Khan praised Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, recalling that the Pakistan Army had dealt India a humiliating defeat in May under his leadership.