I wrote in Pakistan Observer on 28.8.2025 that Pakistan needs new provinces and I still say the same. The reason is simple. In Punjab majority people believe their revenue is spent in Lahore only. Same is the case in other provinces. People in Hazara feel everything goes to Peshawar, people in Makran feel everything goes to Quetta. This sense of deprivation is real and it weakens the federation.
Maryam Nawaz has proved in Punjab that she is a good administrator. She understood this problem. She is giving real powers to Bahawalpur, Sargodha, South Punjab. That is good governance. And Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has been foreseeing this for long – to build the nation you have to take government to the doorstep of people, not call people to Lahore or Karachi. So new provinces on administrative basis are good for Pakistan. But Sindh is a special case and needs a special solution that does not conflict with Sindhi people.
As we all know 90% of mohajirs settled in Sindh, especially Karachi and Hyderabad, because Sindhis are people of love and respect, especially for guests. They opened their hearts. No doubt Sindhis paid a heavy price for this hospitality in shape of MQM politics of 80s and 90s, but now both communities understand each other. Today Sindhi and Mohajir both want peace, jobs and development, not division. If we try to divide Sindh, there will be conflict. If we keep Sindh as One Sindh but empower its cities, there will be no conflict. Here is a practical roadmap for government:
Roadmap for Sindh – One Sindh, Five Strong Cities: Government should announce that Sindh will remain One and its borders are unchangeable. This should be given constitutional guarantee with 2/3 majority of Sindh Assembly. This will remove fear of Sindhi people.
After that, create five empowered Metropolitan Governments inside Sindh: Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah (Shaheed Benazirabad). Larkana can be added as sixth. Each city should have a directly elected Mayor with full financial and administrative powers. Mayor should control local police, water and sanitation, building control, transport, and development budget. Not like present mayor who has no powers.
Second, fix revenue formula. Each division should get budget as per its population and revenue generation. For example, if Karachi generates 60% revenue, at least 40% must be spent in Karachi by law. Same for Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas. Accounts should be public on website every month. This will end the propaganda that revenue is eaten by others.
Third, give ownership. In Karachi and Hyderabad, make Sindhi language compulsory in schools along with Urdu, so Sindhi people feel their culture is respected. And give equal merit jobs to all domiciles of Sindh, whether Sindhi speaking or Urdu speaking. End quota politics.
If government implements this model, which is basically Maryam Nawaz’s decentralization model adapted for Sindh, there will be no need for new province. People of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah will get their rights inside united Sindh. This is the only solution that is acceptable to Sindhi people and also fulfills demands of urban Sindh. This is real nation building as Mohsin Naqvi foresees – strong federation with strong local governments, and One united Sindh.
—The writer is former Regional Executive Inclusive Development at NBP, Mirpur AK.
