Karachi’s deprivation, new province or empowered administrative unit

The debate over the creation of new provinces in Pakistan is once again gaining prominence Various regions have repeatedly raised demands

The debate over the creation of new provinces in Pakistan is once again gaining prominence. Various regions have repeatedly raised demands for new provinces, citing inadequate political representation, administrative neglect, controversial quota systems, unfair distribution of employment opportunities, inequitable allocation of resources, and persistent failures in addressing public grievances. However, one fundamental question often remains overlooked: Is the creation of new provinces the only solution to administrative shortcomings, or can these longstanding challenges also be addressed by establishing empowered administrative units within the existing provincial framework?

Province and Administrative Unit: Two Distinct Concepts

A province is a constitutional and political entity within Pakistan’s federal structure. It has its own provincial assembly, chief minister, cabinet, provincial departments and legislative authority. A province also enjoys constitutionally defined representation in the National Finance Commission (NFC) framework and the Senate of Pakistan. An administrative unit, on the other hand, is a designated geographical area established within an existing province, primarily to improve public service delivery, facilitate administration and address local challenges more effectively.

Is the Creation of New Provinces Necessary?

In a country as geographically extensive and administratively complex as Pakistan, bringing administrative authority closer to the people is undoubtedly essential. Several regions within larger provinces face difficulties in resolving their problems because of geographical distances, administrative complexities and political preferences that influence development priorities. For instance, the people of Chachro in Sindh face considerable difficulties in accessing public resources and essential services, just as residents of Karachi, despite the city’s substantial contribution to national revenue, struggle to secure even the basic necessity of a reliable water supply.

The creation of new provinces also carries the potential risk of linguistic and ethnic divisions, political confrontation and narratives rooted in hostility. In contrast, establishing empowered administrative units within existing provinces could offer a relatively more practical approach to improving public service delivery. Such units could be provided with dedicated development budgets, regional secretariats, administrative authority and responsibility for urban and regional planning. This would help establish an administrative structure capable of addressing people’s problems at the local level. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that an administrative unit cannot serve as a complete substitute for a province. If a region’s demands concern separate political representation, provincial legislative authority or constitutional autonomy, an administrative arrangement alone cannot fulfil those aspirations.

Therefore, the real need is to understand the nature of each region’s grievances and demands and adopt an appropriate solution accordingly.

KARACHI: A CASE IN POINT

Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city, its economic powerhouse and one of its most important port cities. Given its enormous population, geographical expansion and economic significance, the challenges associated with its urban governance are equally extraordinary. Water supply, sewage disposal, sanitation, infrastructure, transportation, urban planning, encroachments, inadequate educational facilities and public health concerns continue to affect the daily lives of Karachi’s residents. These persistent failures have also contributed to a growing sense of deprivation and alienation among the city’s population. One of the major reasons behind Karachi’s administrative difficulties is the fragmented distribution of authority and responsibilities among various institutions responsible for providing municipal and urban services.

Another particularly important concern is the appointment of administrative officers to Karachi’s key positions on the basis of political considerations rather than relevant local administrative experience and familiarity with the city. Officers who are unfamiliar with Karachi’s unique dynamics and complex urban environment may find it difficult to utilize their professional capabilities effectively. This situation is not only unfair to the people of Karachi but can also be unjust to the officers themselves, who are expected to manage an extraordinarily complex urban environment without necessarily having adequate familiarity with its ground realities. In these circumstances, an important question arises: Does Karachi necessarily have to become a separate province for its problems to be resolved, or could a more effective system be developed by establishing an empowered urban administrative unit?

AN EMPOWERED ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT FOR KARACHI

The idea of organizing Karachi as a special urban administrative unit within Sindh deserves serious consideration. The objective of such an arrangement would not be to separate Karachi from Sindh, but rather to ensure that the city’s urban affairs are managed through a coordinated, empowered and accountable administrative structure. This is an approach that merits consideration across Karachi’s diverse communities and political perspectives.

The first step towards achieving this objective would be to clearly define the powers, functions and responsibilities of Karachi’s various civic institutions. A dedicated development budget could also be established for Karachi, with allocations prioritizing essential urban needs, including water supply, transportation, sanitation, education, public health and infrastructure development. The utilization of this budget should be transparent, with regular performance assessments and effective mechanisms for public accountability.

THE REAL BENEFITS OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS

The greatest potential advantage of empowered administrative units is that they can bring government closer to the people. Instead of moving from one institution to another in search of solutions to their problems, citizens should have access to a clearly defined and accountable administrative system.

Local decision-making can improve the monitoring of public services, while development priorities can be determined according to the actual needs of individual regions. Dedicated mechanisms can also be established to ensure the timely resolution of public complaints. Furthermore, by making better use of existing provincial institutions and resources, it may be possible to limit additional administrative expenditure. However, these benefits can only materialize if administrative units are provided with genuine authority, adequate financial resources and a sound legal foundation. Merely designating an area as an administrative unit will not resolve the problems of its people.

WOULD THIS BE ENOUGH FOR KARACHI?

One fundamental reality cannot be overlooked: Karachi’s problems are not simply the consequence of administrative divisions. They are also rooted in population pressure, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented institutional authority, financial constraints and a lack of effective governmental accountability. Therefore, alongside establishing an empowered administrative unit, it would be essential to clearly define the respective roles of the municipal government, provincial institutions and federal authorities. If an administrative unit is established without clearly defined authority over water supply, transportation, land management, urban planning and development resources, the entire exercise could become little more than a change in administrative nomenclature.

Karachi therefore requires a comprehensive legal and administrative framework in which the powers and responsibilities of all relevant institutions are clearly specified, supported by an effective coordination mechanism and a robust system of public accountability. Where the fundamental issues concern public service delivery, administrative authority and local development, empowered administrative units, effective local government and the devolution of financial powers could provide meaningful solutions. Karachi’s example demonstrates that merely redrawing geographical boundaries is not sufficient to resolve urban challenges. What is essential is a system in which authority, resources and responsibilities are clearly defined and the institutions concerned remain answerable to the public. The ultimate objective should not simply be to increase the number of provinces, but to make governance more effective, accessible and accountable to the people. If empowered administrative units can achieve this objective, Pakistan should seriously consider this alternative. However, where the grievances of a particular region concern constitutional and political autonomy, the demand for a new province cannot simply be dismissed in the name of administrative reforms. It must be recognized that a successful governance system is one that guarantees citizens their fundamental rights, improved public services and effective delivery of essential facilities.

Given Karachi’s persistent and widely recognized governance challenges, the establishment of an empowered administrative unit could offer a meaningful model of administrative reform, provided it is backed by genuine authority, adequate financial resources and institutional accountability.