Bilawal says debate over Sindh’s division must end

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday reiterated his party’s opposition to dividing Sindh, saying the provincial assembly had already made its position clear and the debate should now come to an end.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the expansion of Dr Kaikhusrow Nanabhoy Spencer’s Eye Hospital in Karachi, Bilawal said the province’s elected representatives had expressed the will of its people.

He maintained that the people of Sindh had the right to decide the province’s future and that no one else could determine the fate of its cities. He also criticised political representatives who, he said, were promoting division and hatred instead of addressing public concerns.

When asked whether the federal government or its coalition partners had discussed amending the 18th Constitutional Amendment through a proposed 28th amendment, Bilawal responded in the negative.

The PPP chairman also criticised the federal government over what he described as Karachi being denied its rightful share of resources. He said the country’s economic hub needed effective coordination among federal, provincial and local authorities to improve public services and accelerate development.

Bilawal expressed concern over the worsening electricity crisis, noting that power was either unavailable or too expensive for consumers across Sindh and other parts of the country. He said the difficult economic situation had further increased the burden on ordinary citizens.

He pointed to Spencer’s Eye Hospital as an example of efforts to reduce electricity costs, explaining that the facility had been upgraded to operate on solar power. He also expressed a desire to extend similar arrangements across Lyari to help residents access electricity at affordable rates.

Bilawal welcomed the hospital’s restoration and its provision of free medical services, saying healthcare remained an essential public need at a time when treatment at private hospitals was beyond the reach of many people. He said the Sindh government and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) were working to ease the financial pressure on citizens.

He also praised Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab for undertaking development initiatives in the city.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wahab said the foundation stone of Spencer’s Eye Hospital was laid in 1938 and the facility began operating in 1940. Describing it as part of Karachi’s historic heritage, he said the hospital had remained closed for a period before restoration work began.

Under a public-private partnership, the facility has been equipped with modern amenities and is providing free medical examinations and outpatient services. Its operation theatre has also been made functional, while medicines and spectacles are available at discounted rates, the mayor said.

Wahab added that further improvements would be introduced to enhance the hospital’s services.

The dispute over creating additional administrative units in Sindh centres on whether a new governance structure would improve service delivery or threaten the province’s territorial integrity.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has advocated the creation of new administrative units, arguing that population growth and governance challenges require stronger local governments. Its leaders have called for greater authority over resources and public services in Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban centres.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also supported proposals for additional provinces or administrative units, arguing that changes to the existing system could improve accountability, governance and resource distribution.

The PPP, however, strongly opposes dividing Sindh, citing the province’s historical, cultural and constitutional identity. On September 3, the Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution rejecting proposals to divide the province or separate any of its districts.

The constitutional process is a key element of the debate. Article 239(4) of the Constitution requires a constitutional amendment affecting a province’s boundaries to secure a two-thirds majority in the provincial assembly before it can be presented to the president for assent.

The disagreement also touches on the distribution of powers between the federation and the provinces. The 18th Constitutional Amendment devolved substantial authority to the provinces, while discussion of further constitutional changes has raised questions about the future balance of power.