MQM-P calls for administrative units based on population

MQM-P calls for administrative units based on population

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has called for the creation of new administrative units across Pakistan based on population size, arguing that the country needs a more effective system of governance to meet the needs of its growing population.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Siddiqui said the business community across the country had also raised concerns similar to those voiced by his party regarding the existing administrative structure. He argued that Pakistan’s administrative system needed reforms to ensure better governance and a more balanced distribution of resources.

Siddiqui said the provincial structure had changed after the abolition of the One Unit system, but the country had failed to restore an administrative framework that fully addressed the needs of its population. He stressed that his party’s demand for new administrative units did not target the country’s territorial integrity or seek to undermine the existing provinces.

“We demand the creation of administrative units in Pakistan according to the population,” Siddiqui said, emphasizing that the objective was to improve administration and ensure that people received better public services.

Addressing concerns over the boundaries of potential new administrative units, the MQM-P chief said his party had never called for a debate over the division of Pakistan’s territory. He described Pakistan as the “motherland” and said all four provinces remained an integral part of the country.

Siddiqui maintained that the country itself was indivisible, while the Constitution allowed for changes in the administrative structure. He said the Constitution provided a mechanism for altering provincial boundaries and creating new administrative arrangements, although he believed the existing procedure had become impractical under current circumstances.

The MQM-P chairman also pointed to the significance of August 1, the beginning of Pakistan’s independence month. He said the month carried a strong ideological connection with the creation of Pakistan and should encourage political leaders to discuss reforms aimed at strengthening the country.

Siddiqui further revealed that his party had already introduced a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly to address the issue. He argued that Pakistan needed to revisit its administrative framework and consider reforms that could make governance more efficient and bring government closer to the people.

The MQM-P has repeatedly advocated the creation of additional administrative units, maintaining that a more decentralized system could improve governance, facilitate service delivery and ensure a fairer distribution of resources. The demand, however, remains a politically sensitive issue, particularly in the context of debates over provincial boundaries and autonomy.