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New Provinces Will Unite, Not Divide Pakistan: SarwarPakistan
Senior politicians in Bahawalpur backed new provinces, saying the move would unite the country — but only after consultation and a Punjab Assembly vote.
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Senior political leaders in Bahawalpur have pressed the case for creating new provinces, arguing that smaller administrative units would bring government closer to the people, but they stressed that the move can only happen through consultation and a vote in the Punjab Assembly. The leaders were speaking at a joint press conference held on Monday at the residence of former Punjab governor Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood.
Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik told the gathering that the federal government does not have the authority to create new provinces without the support of the people of Punjab and the political parties. He said the PML-N is in favour of new provinces, but the decision must be taken through consultation, and it must be approved by the Punjab Assembly with a two-thirds majority. He added that the people of a future South Punjab province would benefit from additional development funds and greater political autonomy.
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Former Punjab governor Muhammad Sarwar said the creation of new provinces would strengthen national unity, and that the Punjab Assembly has the authority to take such a decision. His remarks set the tone for the press conference, presenting the demand as a step that would unite the country rather than divide it.
Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood sounded a note of caution, saying the creation of new provinces is not an easy task and requires lengthy consultation and a long process. He said all political parties, the federal government, the provincial governments and the institutions should be taken on board. He described the matter as very sensitive, saying the feelings of Punjab and its people must be kept in mind, and he made it clear that neither the Bahawalpur province nor the South Punjab province should be called Saraiki province.
Former Punjab chief minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa said the demand for a Bahawalpur province is very old, but no progress has been made on it. He said the provincial government must be ready to provide water to any new provinces, and he stressed the need to ensure water supply to Cholistan, warning that the establishment of new provinces could otherwise be adversely affected.
The press conference brought together voices from across the political spectrum in southern Punjab, but no date or timetable for creating the new provinces was announced. The leaders agreed that the debate will continue, with consultation and consensus presented as the only way forward.
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