KARACHI (Dunya News) – Chairman Dunya Media Group, Mian Amer Mahmood, has said that Pakistan is not developing in line with its true potential.
Speaking at a session held at IoBM Korangi Creek as part of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan's (APSUP) nationwide awareness campaign, “Pakistan 2030: Challenges, Opportunities and New Pathways,” he said, “We love our country — Pakistan is our home. Allah granted Muslims a separate homeland, and with time our circumstances have improved.”
Mian Amer Mahmood noted that the region includes China, India, Vietnam and Thailand, and Pakistan must observe how rapidly neighbouring countries are progressing. “Our country is not advancing according to its capabilities, while nations around us are moving ahead quickly.”
He added that it is not the case that good leaders never came in the past 80 years, but none fully fulfilled the responsibility entrusted to them. He highlighted that Pakistan is a federation comprising four federating units, and it is the only federation in the world where one unit is larger than the other three combined.
He said Punjab makes up 52% of Pakistan’s population, while the other three provinces together account for 48%. Punjab has a population of 130 million, Sindh around 55 million, and yet the population of Karachi remains unresolved — some say it is 20 million, others claim it is 30 million.
Strong institutions, accurate data essential for Pakistan’s progress
The Chairman Dunya Media Group said that with an institution like NADRA in place, carrying a national identity card is a legal obligation for every citizen. “We should be able to know our population by the hour. Science has advanced so much that you can even count people through satellites,” he noted.
Mian Amer Mahmood said a state has seven key responsibilities: public welfare, law and order, justice, economic welfare, political welfare, and the protection of national borders. “If another country attacks, it is the state’s responsibility to fully defend the nation. It is also the state’s duty to work for the welfare of its people,” he added.
‘We have fallen behind the world’
He said Pakistan has made good progress in certain areas, but in today’s era, the country has fallen behind. “There was a time when Pakistan was considered the most advanced nation in the region. South Asia saw more development in Pakistan than in neighbouring countries — but now we lag behind.”
Referring to a World Bank report on what Pakistan will look like at 100 years, he said that only five major cities in Pakistan show signs of development. “Beyond these five, we have not developed any city where all basic facilities are available,” he remarked.
Weak institutions fuel corruption
Aamir Mehmood said Pakistan’s institutions are not strong enough to remain free from personal influence. “Weak institutions lead to widespread corruption. Local governments are the best system for resolving people’s everyday problems, yet every democratic government abolishes them as soon as it comes to power.”
He said creating smaller provinces would make problem-solving easier. “Look at corruption indices — we rank near the bottom. Our institutions are not independent enough to guarantee merit-based rights. Weak institutions breed corruption.”
Local government exists to serve people
He emphasised that Pakistan’s system has three tiers — the federation, provinces and local government — and it is the local government that truly serves citizens. “But every time democracy returns, local governments are the first to be removed,” he said.
He compared Pakistan with other countries, noting that the United States — the world’s third most populous country — has 50 states. Indonesia, slightly larger in population with 270 million people, has 34 provinces. Pakistan, the fifth most populous nation with 250 million people, has only four provinces.
He added, “Among the world’s ten most populous countries, we rank fifth. China has 31 administrative units. India became independent around the same time as Pakistan — it had nine provinces at independence, and today it has 39. Before every election, India creates one or two new provinces.”
Balochistan too large to maintain law and order
The Chairman Dunya Media Group said that Pakistan is still functioning with only four provinces, and all four are lopsided in structure. At the time of independence, Balochistan’s population was just 1.1 million, yet it held nearly half of Pakistan’s landmass. Today, its population is around 15 million — and maintaining law and order in such a vast region is impossible, he noted.
He added that Nigeria, the world’s sixth most populous country, has 27 provinces; Brazil, with a population of 210 million, has 36; Russia, a geographically massive country, has 46 provinces and 22 republics; and Mexico, the world’s tenth most populous nation with 130 million people, has 31 provinces.
He stated that Pakistan’s first census in 1951 recorded a population of 33 million. “Only 12 countries in the world are larger than Punjab. If Punjab were an independent country, it would be the 13th largest nation on earth. Only 31 countries are larger than Sindh,” he said.
Our provinces are bigger than many countries
Mian Amer Mahmood said that globally, there are not as many large countries as the size of our provinces. “Forty-one countries are larger than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 172 countries are smaller than Balochistan in land area. When administrative units are structured this way, governance cannot function properly.”
He noted that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index surveyed 167 countries, and Pakistan ranked 140th. In the Human Development Index of 193 countries, Pakistan stands at 168. In the Rule of Law index, Pakistan ranks 129 out of 142 nations.
He said Pakistan calls itself an agricultural country, yet in the Global Hunger Index — which surveyed 127 countries — Pakistan ranks 109th. “Forty-four percent of our children suffer from stunted growth. Their brains and bodies will not develop properly. Twenty-five million children in Pakistan are out of school — the highest number in the world — and this number is rising every year,” he added.
We are damaging our future
He further said that these indicators show we are harming our future for the next 20 years. “Fifteen years from now, these children will be the biggest chains holding us back. To correct these deep-rooted problems, we must take the first step today. We need to identify which pillar of the government is responsible for delivering these essential services.”
Every division in Pakistan could become a province, says Aamir Mehmood
The Chairman Dunya Media Group said that while countries around the world have downsized their administrative units, Pakistan has continued with the same structure, making progress difficult. “GDP is not calculated at the provincial level in Pakistan. We propose that divisions be upgraded to provinces,” he said.
He explained, “Karachi is currently a division and could become a province. If every division becomes a province, governance can be managed more effectively. Punjab has 10 divisions; if these were converted into provinces, Lahore would be the largest and Gujrat the smallest.”
Growing demand for new provinces
Mian Amer Mahmood noted that whenever Karachi is discussed, population estimates vary. “If Karachi becomes a province, its population will be 20.2 million. Sindh could then have seven provinces, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could also have seven.
Every province already has growing demands for new provinces. Political party manifestos also mention the creation of new provinces.”
He referred to historical positions, saying that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s manifesto supported empowering districts, and the Pakistan Muslim League-N also mentioned new provinces. “The founder of PTI stated in a video clip that Pakistan cannot progress until divisions are upgraded to provinces,” he added.
He said Balochistan currently has eight divisions, which could become eight provinces. “Creating provinces there would make it easier for the government to manage the large area. Smaller populations reduce administrative costs and allow more funds for development.”
Violent revolutions worsen problems
He warned against violent uprisings, saying, “In Bangladesh, revolutions did not improve exports, employment, or law and order. No country’s economy has improved through violent revolutions; they only worsen problems. Turkey, a country like ours, also had military rule. Even there, a prime minister was executed, as happened in Pakistan.”
He highlighted Turkey’s local government success: “Turkey got a capable leader, and its local government system was excellent. Our local government system was established in 2001 and abolished in 2008. In Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan demonstrated results as a mayor, achieving national prominence through performance.”
Youth can help create smaller provinces
The Dunya Media Group Chairman emphasized the role of youth, saying, “Young people can play a key role in creating smaller provinces. Today, everyone has access to social media and mobile phones, connecting us all. Social media can be used for positive action. If the public demands something collectively, no ruler, administration, or establishment can ignore it. We must pursue our struggle peacefully to ensure we are heard. We are speaking for a better Pakistan, better governance, and a brighter future for youth.”
Peaceful change is possible
He added, “Pakistan has 64% youth, yet only 1% reach university. This 1% can be the most impactful. You can change the system peacefully. We need to strengthen our unity — when millions demand new provinces together, no one can ignore them.”
We must build our character individually: Chaudhry Abdul Rehman
Earlier, Chairman APSUP Prof. Dr. Chaudhry Abdul Rehman addressed the session, saying that the purpose of gathering today was to reflect on the direction in which the country is headed. “Twenty years from now, Pakistan will turn 100. We must determine the right path,” he said.
Chaudhry Abdul Rehman added that if the direction is correct, the destination will eventually come on its own. “During the era of industrialisation, we focused heavily on skill development. But along with that, we must also work on building our personal character.”
He further said that Pakistan is a country for Muslims, yet it ranks 137th in transparency. “On the Human Development Index, we stand alongside countries facing civil war,” he remarked.