Plan for new provinces faces political minefield

Pakistan's government is laying plans to carve out new provinces — a restructuring that would substantially reshape the country's federal administration. But substantial uncertainty surrounds the scope: estimates range from seven to twenty-seven new provinces, with no agreement yet on where the boundaries should fall. Constitutionally, the government faces considerable hurdles. Creating new provinces requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority for constitutional amendments, and existing provincial legislatures must approve changes to their boundaries. Political parties including the PPP and JUI-F are urging the government to stick with these constitutional procedures rather than bypass them, warning that an end run could trigger backlash the government can ill afford. The opposition PTI says it would support the plan, provided provinces are created where there's genuine need — and it's pushing for South Punjab to lead the effort. Per Dawn, political leaders and constitutional experts broadly agree that Pakistan's federation needs reorganization, but consensus ends there: no agreement exists on how many provinces, who draws the lines, or whether the government can sustain the political weight of this fight.

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