LAHORE: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has proposed holding a public referendum on the creation of new provinces in Pakistan, saying the decision should rest with the people rather than with political parties alone.
Speaking to the media at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore on Thursday, 12 November, Naqvi said seeking public opinion was the “best solution” to the debate over new provinces, and that the views of all political parties were necessary. “If the people say new provinces should not be created, then I am with the people,” he said.
The interior minister said surveys were being conducted on the issue and, according to him, people were demanding new provinces. He said that since all sides spoke of democracy and the supremacy of the people, the question should be put to a public vote. “Let us hold a referendum and give people what they want. The people are supreme,” he said.
Naqvi and Bilawal ‘on the same page’ on a reset
Referring to his discussions with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Naqvi said both were on the same page regarding the need for fundamental changes in the existing system, although their approaches differed. “Bilawal spoke about resetting political matters, whereas I am proposing a reset of the entire system,” he said.
Bilawal had addressed a ceremony in Larkana on Monday, where he called for a “political reset” rather than new provinces amid the country’s prevailing economic hardships. The PPP strongly opposes the creation of new provinces in Sindh, and the Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution rejecting any division of the province. Naqvi said all parties, including the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), were important for the government, and nothing would be decided through disagreement.
The 12-province proposal
Naqvi’s remarks come amid reports that a proposal to reorganise Pakistan into 12 provinces is under consideration, with a nationwide referendum envisaged ahead of a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment. The News reported that the proposed arrangement could see Punjab divided into four provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan into three each, and Sindh into two.
Sources familiar with the proposal said the amendment could be considered in the first half of 2027. However, no final decision has been taken regarding provincial boundaries, administrative structures or the constitutional process. The report said the aim was better governance, decentralised authority and a more equitable distribution of development resources.
Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had backed the creation of new provinces, saying even 12 could be considered, provided they are established on administrative rather than ethnic or political grounds. He said in Sialkot on Sunday that the proposal had been under discussion for two months.
NCCIA measures announced
Naqvi was speaking during a visit to the NCCIA, where he also announced measures to strengthen the agency. He said its complaint cell is being moved onto the Pak ID platform, that he would brief the prime minister on the agency’s resources next week, and that staff numbers will be increased — the agency has only 61 personnel in Punjab. He said the NCCIA had arrested 15 suspects over the past month in operations against online pornography, and had uncovered an alleged international examination fraud. He added there was zero tolerance for those who blackmail girls online.
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