LAHORE (Dunya News) - Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said efforts are underway to build a political consensus on the creation of new provinces, adding that the political landscape could change rapidly once an agreement is reached.
Asif said the establishment of new administrative units or provinces would not threaten the political interests of any individual or party but would instead be a welcome development for Pakistan.
He clarified that the military establishment had never asked political leaders to discuss the creation of new provinces, adding that he was also unaware of the proposed mechanism for establishing new administrative units or provinces.
The defence minister said the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should not oppose the creation of new provinces, arguing that agreeing to the proposal could also open up new political opportunities for him.
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Asif said positive progress was being made in ongoing consultations and stressed that politics was the art of the possible.
He added that all political parties were being taken into confidence and expressed hope that a mutually acceptable solution would emerge.
He further said that differences and reservations could be transformed into consensus over the next few weeks, adding that a new administrative or political system could also emerge in the new year.