KARACHI (Dunya News) - The MQM-P has stepped up its campaign for new provinces, with party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui saying Sindh presents the strongest case for the creation of additional administrative units.
Speaking at a press conference with Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal, Siddiqui said Pakistan’s administrative structure needed to change in line with population growth.
He said the country had continued to expand in population without creating new provinces, resulting in growing pressure on existing administrative systems.
According to the MQM-P chairman, the demand for new provinces should not be viewed as a political or organisational agenda. Rather, he said, it was a matter concerning the basic rights of citizens and the effective delivery of public services.
Siddiqui urged political parties to sit together and discuss the issue, saying constitutional provisions already allowed for the creation of new provinces.
Mustafa Kamal said new provinces would not divide Pakistan or alter Sindh’s territorial boundaries. He described them as administrative arrangements aimed at bringing government closer to the people.
He also criticised the performance of the Sindh government, arguing that the province had received billions of rupees in funds but had failed to provide adequate basic facilities to its population.
Kamal said decentralisation of authority and empowerment of local governments were essential to address public grievances.
Farooq Sattar focused on Karachi, calling it the country’s economic capital and saying the city deserved greater administrative powers.
He claimed Karachi contributes a major share of Pakistan’s tax revenue and exports but has continued to face governance and corruption problems.
The MQM-P leaders said the existing administrative system needed major reforms and argued that stronger local governments and additional administrative units could help improve governance, reduce deprivation and accelerate development.