LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood has said that creating more provinces will improve access to justice and increase revenue.
Speaking at an awareness seminar organised by the Association of Private Sector Universities Pakistan (APSUP) at the University of Lahore on Thursday, Mian Amer stated that 90 percent of citizens’ needs are met through local governments, yet they have always been ignored.
He added that from streets to cities, cleanliness and provision of facilities are the responsibility of local governments.
Mian Amer Mahmood further said, “Although I am known in the field of education, I have also served twice as the Mayor of Lahore. Today, I have the opportunity to speak with you here at the University of Lahore.”
Need to improve education, public welfare
Punjab Group Chairman Mian Amer Mehmood said that public welfare is judged at the global level as well, which is why there is a need to improve education and public welfare in Pakistan. He added that they will also discuss the current state of education in detail in the future to bring reforms in the system.
He stated that Pakistan’s education system is facing serious challenges, and implementing the recommendations of international institutions is the need of the hour.
Mian Amer Mahmood noted that agencies like UNICEF guide countries on how to address education system challenges, but unfortunately, Pakistan ranks only slightly above countries suffering from civil war.
He pointed out that Pakistan stands at 120th position in terms of rule of law, while millions of children remain out of school. The most important question, he stressed, is how our education system is functioning and what practical measures are being taken to improve it.
He warned that Pakistan’s education crisis has reached an alarming level, with 25 million children out of school.
He highlighted that Punjab’s population today stands at 127 million, and while other countries have organised their systems with growing populations, Pakistan still lags behind in this regard.
Mian Amer Mahmood emphasised that he is not talking about making nuclear bombs but about addressing basic issues. He stressed the urgent need for practical measures and learning from international experiences to improve education and training.
Read also: Mian Amer Mahmood calls for new provinces, stronger local govt system
Mian Amer Mahmood stated that certain people have interests tied to the existing large provinces, which may be preventing progress. He noted that people in Multan and Bahawalpur want separate provinces, and the Hazara region has long sought provincial status.
Many countries have created multiple provinces
He added that the Muhajir community also desires a separate province. He highlighted that many countries have created multiple provinces, suggesting that each division in Pakistan could become a province—Punjab could have 10 provinces, Sindh could be divided into 7 parts, and Balochistan has 8 divisions.
He further commented on the disparity in governance, saying that the lifestyles of the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Balochistan differ greatly.
Millions of cases are pending in courts
“The secretariat is filled from top to bottom with supervisory government layers. Millions of cases are pending in the courts. Once someone is stuck in the judicial system, their entire life is consumed there,” he said.
Mian Amer Mahmood cited an example, saying, “You may have heard that the Supreme Court acquitted a murder suspect, only to later find out that the person was executed. The fault lies not with our judiciary but with the system itself. Anyone who enters the courts sees their life ruined.”
He said, “If the judiciary fails to perform, it is not an individual’s fault but the system’s failure.”
He noted that concerns are often raised that creating new provinces will increase expenses. He compared this with India, where Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were divided with equal resources, and within ten years, both provinces more than doubled their revenue.
The Punjab Group chairman also spoke on leadership, stating, “In India, even a tea seller became Prime Minister. Leadership should emerge through rigorous competition. Globally, leaders who perform are able to progress. In our country, no matter how hard one works, opportunities are limited and blocked.”
He warned, “If the system is not fixed, even our natural resources will become a burden rather than a blessing. Russia has the most natural resources, yet the system determines success.”
He stressed the role of leaders in nation-building: “Leaders are the ones who take nations forward. Leaders who rise on merit build nations. We don’t need to search for a leader in the corners; we need a system that produces leaders.”
Leaders emerge from middle class
Mian Amir Mahmood pointed out the importance of the middle class, saying, “All of us belong to the middle class. Globally, leaders emerge from the middle class. Leadership comes from the middle class, not just politically but also religiously. This nation and country have brought me this far. My first priority is my country. We must first strengthen ourselves within this nation, earn respect here, and then look outward.”
He discussed Pakistan’s current provincial setup, noting, “Currently, we have four provinces. Punjab holds 53% of Pakistan’s population, and with such a large share, it is visible everywhere. Punjab also requires 53% of the resources, while the other three provinces collectively account for 47%. Punjab is the largest province by population, and that is why it faces criticism.”
Earlier, upon his arrival at the University of Lahore, he was warmly welcomed with flower petals and bouquets. Executive Director of Punjab Group, Sohail Afzal, was also present.
Chairman of the University of Lahore, Awais Raoof, and Chairman of the Superior Group, Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, personally welcomed him. A large number of faculty members and students were also present.
On August 20, Mian Amer Mahmood had also delivered a special address at an event in Superior University, where he proposed the creation of new provinces in the country.