Improve Governance
Improve Governance: People frame the debate around ethnicity, history, and identity. This hides the real issue: poor governance. Pakistan does not lack identity. It lacks fair systems.
Unequal Governance
Other South Asian countries created more regions to improve governance. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan all expanded. Pakistan still has four provinces. This shows resistance to sharing power. Pakistan has rich cultural and linguistic diversity. This is a strength. But unfair development creates frustration. Politicians then use identity to avoid real reforms.
A few cities get most resources. Many regions stay neglected. South Punjab and interior Sindh show this gap clearly. Resources exist, but leaders distribute them unfairly. Large provinces are hard to manage. Governance becomes weaker as size increases. Leaders centralize decisions. People feel distant from power. Governments focus on big cities. Cities bring quick political gains. Rural and remote areas get ignored.
Elite Dominance
Governments create complaint cells and digital portals. These look good but solve little. They avoid fixing core problems. Political interference weakens accountability systems. Governments add new systems instead of fixing old ones. This creates confusion.
A few families control politics. Dynastic rule dominates. New leaders struggle to enter politics. Elites use large provinces to keep control. They manage resources and influence decisions. Development serves their interests. Smaller provinces can change this system. They can reduce elite control. They can create space for new leaders. Smaller provinces are easier to manage. Leaders can make local decisions. Resources can reach people more fairly.
Political Will
Pakistan has trained civil servants. They can run smaller provinces. The real issue is political will. Some fear ethnic conflict. This happens only if leaders draw provinces on ethnic lines. Administrative planning can avoid this risk. Local governments should improve governance. Provinces do not empower them. Leaders delay elections and limit their role.
Structural Reform
Local reforms alone are not enough. Pakistan needs deeper structural change. Smaller provinces can help fix governance. A strong country shares power fairly. It allows equal opportunity. Concentrated power weakens democracy.
Pakistan can create smaller provinces with careful planning. This can improve fairness and governance. It can make the country more inclusive and effective.
Published in Dawn, 24th April 2026
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