Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has called for a national consensus on the issue of creating new provinces, saying the matter should be addressed through consultation rather than political confrontation.
Shujaat said the proposal for new provinces should not become another source of political conflict and urged all stakeholders to engage in serious, meaningful and result-oriented discussions.
He emphasized that the question of new provinces was not an issue belonging to any single political party, group or region. Instead, he said, it was directly connected with public convenience, better governance, administrative efficiency and the country’s future.
New provinces should focus on public needs
According to Shujaat, any decision regarding the creation of new provinces should be based on ground realities and the needs of the people rather than political interests or temporary slogans.
He said the key consideration should be whether a new administrative structure could make government services more accessible and help resolve citizens’ problems more effectively.
“The most important question is which system can provide greater convenience to the people and how their problems can be resolved more effectively at their doorstep,” he said.
Shujaat added that the proposal should be considered with an open mind if it could improve administrative affairs, provide relief to citizens and enhance the performance of government institutions.
Administrative reforms could offer another option
The PML-Q president also suggested that strengthening existing administrative units could provide an alternative approach to improving governance.
He proposed that divisions could potentially be developed into more effective administrative units by transferring greater powers, resources and decision-making authority to lower levels of government.
According to him, bringing administrative decision-making closer to citizens could reduce the distance between the government and the public.
Such reforms, he said, could also speed up official processes and allow government institutions to respond to citizens’ concerns more efficiently.
The proposal reflects a broader debate over whether administrative improvements necessarily require the creation of entirely new provinces or whether greater decentralization could achieve similar objectives.
Shujaat warns against further political division
Shujaat stressed that Pakistan could not afford further political division at a time when major national issues require collective decision-making.
He urged political parties to move the debate over new provinces and administrative reforms away from confrontation, blame and political point-scoring.
Instead, he called for discussions aimed at developing a consensus-based framework that could serve the interests of citizens across the country.
The PML-Q leader said the matter should be discussed by all major stakeholders rather than being treated as a political contest between competing parties or regions.
Political parties urged to sit together
Shujaat called on political parties to sit together and discuss the issue rather than adopting opposing positions before meaningful consultations take place.
He also recommended seeking input from administrative experts, constitutional experts and public representatives before making any major decision.
According to him, expert opinions and public representation would be important in developing a practical and workable system.
The aim, he said, should be to establish an administrative structure that makes government services more accessible, strengthens institutions and improves the ability of authorities to address public concerns.
Public welfare should remain the priority
Shujaat said the debate over new provinces should not be reduced to a question of political victory or defeat.
He argued that the real measure of success would be whether administrative reforms improve the lives of ordinary Pakistanis.
Better administration, faster access to justice, basic public facilities and easier access to government services should remain the central objectives of any reform, he said.
The comments come as the question of administrative restructuring continues to feature in Pakistan’s political discourse, with proposals for new provinces often linked to demands for improved governance and greater administrative accessibility.
Shujaat’s call for national consultation places emphasis on reaching agreement among political and institutional stakeholders before moving toward any major structural change.
For the PML-Q president, the debate should ultimately focus on creating a system that brings government closer to the people while strengthening Pakistan’s administrative capacity and avoiding further political polarization.
Also read: Chaudhary Shujaat to be removed from PML-Q presidency.
