High-Level Consultation Underway on New Provinces and Administrative Units

Islamabad: High-level consultations are underway over the creation of new provinces and administrative units. According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been consulting senior party leaders and cabinet members on the issue for the past three days. Initial discussions have focused on proposals to either make Islamabad a province or introduce a stronger local government system in the federal capital. Recent legislation and the relevant committee report have also been reviewed.

Sources say the federal government remains concerned about the proposal to turn Islamabad into a separate province and is instead considering the establishment of a strong and empowered local government system. A local government bill approved by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior is also under consideration as part of the government’s deliberations on the administrative structure of the capital.

According to sources, the senior leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has yet to adopt a clear policy on the creation of new provinces or administrative units despite several days of consultations. Further discussions are expected before the government reaches a final position on the matter.