Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has confirmed that a full parliamentary debate on the creation of new provinces will take place in October. He stated that both the National Assembly and Senate sessions scheduled for that month will provide the proper platform for this important discussion.
The minister clarified that no sessions of either house are planned for September. He emphasised that Parliament House remains the right place for such a sensitive national conversation. Addressing a separate issue, Tariq Fazal made it clear that Islamabad is not being turned into a new province. Instead, the capital is moving toward a new governance model that may include an elected assembly and stronger local administration.
The debate over new provinces and administrative reforms has been growing for several weeks. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi earlier said Pakistan’s governance system needed a complete reset after decades of decline. He stressed that any new administrative units must reflect the will of the people. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal went further and suggested the country could eventually have 12 to 15 provinces. He also proposed stronger district governments as an alternative way to improve service delivery.
The Pakistan Peoples Party has so far opposed moving ahead without a clear and concrete plan. The discussion now centres on two main approaches: creating additional provinces or giving more powers to districts and local governments within the existing four-province structure.
Many political leaders agree that the current system has become too centralised despite the 18th Amendment. The coming October sessions in Parliament will allow lawmakers from all sides to present their views openly. The outcome of this debate could shape how Pakistan manages its administrative and provincial boundaries in the years ahead.
