Naqvi vows to continue push for new provinces

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reaffirmed his support for the creation of new provinces and administrative units, saying the matter should be decided according to the will of the people rather than political considerations.

Addressing the National Policy Dialogue in Lahore on Saturday, Naqvi said he would continue advocating for new provinces regardless of whether he remained in government.

He urged political leaders and the public to avoid reacting emotionally to the issue, stressing that the creation of new provinces was a long-term matter and would not happen immediately.

Naqvi argued that additional administrative units could help promote balanced development across the country. He questioned whether the existing provincial structures adequately addressed the needs of areas outside major urban centres such as Lahore , Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.

“If people want new administrative units, there should be no obstacle to their creation,” the minister said, adding that any decision must be taken within the framework of the Constitution.

He clarified that his earlier call for a “reset” was not aimed at any particular political party or government. According to Naqvi, he was referring to a need to reform the administrative system that has been in place since 1979.

The interior minister also expressed strong support for granting Islamabad provincial status. He said the federal capital faced distinctive administrative challenges and argued that its governance structure needed to be reconsidered.

Naqvi further called for greater devolution of power to the grassroots level, saying empowered mayors could play a key role in addressing local problems and improving public services.