Naqvi Insists New Administrative Units Must Have Public Backing

On September 5, 2026, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi took the stage at the National Policy Dialogue in Lahore and tackled a subject that has been buzzing around the political corridors for months – the possibility of carving out new administrative units in Pakistan.

“A ‘reset’ does not mean tearing the whole system apart,” Naqvi said, pausing briefly before continuing, “it simply means fixing what is broken.” He was careful to underline that any change must flow from a broad political consensus and, most importantly, from the will of the people.

He made it crystal clear: if the nation says no, the government will not push ahead. “We cannot, under any circumstances, create new provinces based on the whims of a single party, an individual, or a short‑lived government,” he warned.

The minister painted a picture of a participatory process. “We will draft proposals, lay them before the public and ask straight‑forward questions: Do you accept this? Do you reject it?” He urged parliamentarians, experts, and civil society to join the debate, weighing the benefits, logistical challenges and fiscal impact of any new unit.

When asked whether his earlier remarks targeted any particular political party, Naqvi quickly dismissed the notion. “My comments were about the system that has existed since independence, not about any party’s agenda,” he clarified, adding that any reform must be pursued strictly within constitutional bounds.

Naqvi did not shy away from admitting the current administrative structure is faltering. “Four out of ten children still miss out on proper education, only 55 % of our population enjoys clean drinking water, and two million cases linger in the courts,” he observed, framing these statistics as the very reasons the government is looking at a reset.

He also turned his attention to the federal capital. Describing himself as “the biggest supporter of an Islamabad province,” Naqvi pointed out that the city receives no direct allocation from the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. “If Islamabad becomes a province, its residents will finally see a share of the budget that belongs to them,” he argued.

The minister highlighted the population‑based formula used for NFC disbursements, calling it an “incentive” that still needs tweaking. “Are we waiting for the system to explode before we act? A reset may be overdue.”

Naqvi invoked the example of New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, noting that leaders who are closest to their constituents often know the problems best. He assured listeners that any new administrative unit would respect cultural identities – a Sindhi would remain Sindhi, a Punjabi would remain Punjabi – and would not be a tool for ethnic or tribal manipulation.

In concluding remarks, he cautioned politicians against letting emotions drive the discussion. “This is not a quick fix; it will not happen overnight,” he said, urging parties to keep the dialogue calm, rational, and centered on delivering tangible services.

“If the public wants it, it will happen,” Naqvi declared, emphasizing that the final decision rests with citizens, not with a single government or party.

Following his speech, Abdul Aleem Khan, president of the Istehkam‑i‑Pakistan Party (IPP), praised the stance, noting that leaders across the spectrum were beginning to speak constructively about the issue. He stressed that any new province should be driven by administrative need and public convenience rather than linguistic or cultural arguments, framing the debate as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s democratic future.