Restructuring the Federation: Call for Smaller Provinces to Strengthen Governance in Pakistan

By Our Staff Reporter Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore: The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Central Punjab (UCP) hosted a thought-provoking seminar titled “Revisiting the Federation: The Case for Smaller Provinces in Pakistan.” The discussion focused on the need to restructure Pakistan’s federal system by creating smaller provinces to bring governance closer to the people.

Renowned educationist and visionary leader Mian Amer Mahmood delivered the keynote address, outlining a comprehensive vision for transforming Pakistan’s existing administrative divisions into full-fledged provinces. He argued that smaller provinces would not only decentralize power but also promote efficient governance, cost-effective administration, and stronger public service delivery.

Highlighting international parallels, Mahmood said the success of smaller administrative units across the world offers a proven model for Pakistan. Such restructuring, he emphasized, could help reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, foster local leadership, and curb dynastic politics that often hinder democratic development.

The seminar, moderated by Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt, Dean of the Faculty, featured prominent panelists including Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed (Professor Emeritus, Stockholm University), Ahmed Bilal Mehboob (President, PILDAT), and Ahmed Nazir Warraich (Governance and Legal Expert). The panelists lauded Mahmood’s research-based proposals, describing them as both pragmatic and timely.

A lively question-and-answer session followed, engaging students, academics, and policy observers in a debate on how federal restructuring could enhance inclusivity and representation across Pakistan’s diverse regions.

Concluding the event, participants agreed that with Pakistan’s evolving socio-political landscape, the creation of smaller provinces is no longer a mere policy suggestion—it represents a crucial step toward achieving effective governance and sustainable national progress.