- Mustafa Kamal says a referendum will be held on new provinces, with December described as crucial.
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has called a referendum the best solution, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says up to 12 provinces could be considered.
- Government sources say preparations are complete to give Islamabad special administrative status under a mayor.
- No boundaries, administrative arrangements or constitutional process have been finalised.
Federal Health Minister and MQM-Pakistan leader Mustafa Kamal has said a referendum will be held to decide whether Pakistan creates new provinces. He described December as a crucial month for the proposal.
Speaking to party office-bearers and workers in Karachi's District Central, Kamal said the country had reached a decisive point in its history and that long-held proposals were now moving towards reality.
Kamal's Remarks in Karachi
Kamal said the time had come to bury the feudal, landlord and capitalist systems. He also said the priorities of the state and the solutions to people's basic problems were now aligned.
He claimed that oppressed people across the country were looking towards Karachi for the creation of new provinces. He alleged that opponents of the move wanted to provoke clashes between the linguistic and ethnic communities of the city and the province.
Kamal described Sindhis as oppressed people and said it was MQM-P's responsibility to protect their lives, assets and dignity. He urged Muhajirs to open their hearts and embrace all communities living in Karachi.
dreams of the past are now turning into reality
Mustafa Kamal, Federal Health Minister and MQM-P leader
Criticism of the PPP and Nationalists
The minister argued that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) does not represent the whole of Sindh. He claimed the party wins only 20 percent of the total vote.
He further alleged that the PPP is afraid of an accurate count of Karachi's population, which he put at 30.5 million. He also accused Sindhi nationalist groups of being enemies of the Sindhi people. These are Kamal's claims, and the reports carry no response from the parties concerned.
Wider Debate on New Provinces
The remarks come amid renewed discussion of the province structure. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently called a referendum the "best solution". He said public opinion should decide the matter and that all political parties, including the PPP and the PML-N, needed to be taken on board.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has also backed new provinces on administrative grounds, saying even 12 could be considered.
According to reports, one proposal under consideration would reorganise the country into 12 provinces. Punjab would be divided into four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan would have three each, and Sindh would have two. No final decision has been taken on boundaries, administrative structures or the constitutional process.
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Parts of Haripur district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) | Under consideration |
| Some areas of Rawalpindi | Under consideration |
| Parts of NA-51, Murree | Under consideration |
| Gwadar and other ports | Reportedly dropped |
Special Status Planned for Islamabad
Government sources say preparations are complete to give Islamabad a special administrative status under a new governance model. The capital could become a special-status territory or a model administrative unit headed by a mayor, with an elected body of 25 to 30 members.
The plan also involves enlarging the capital's boundaries. Proposals under consideration include adding parts of Haripur district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, some areas of Rawalpindi and parts of NA-51 in Murree.
A reported proposal to bring Gwadar or other ports under Islamabad's administrative structure has been dropped.
Kamal has described December as a crucial month for the referendum plan. However, no final decision has been taken on boundaries, administrative structures or the constitutional process, and Naqvi has said all political parties need to be taken on board.
Questions and answers
What did Mustafa Kamal say about new provinces?
He said a referendum will be held on creating new provinces and described December as a crucial month for the process.
How many provinces could Pakistan have under the proposal?
Reports say a plan for 12 provinces is under consideration, with Punjab split into four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan into three each, and Sindh into two. Nothing has been finalised.
What is planned for Islamabad?
Government sources say Islamabad could become a special-status territory or model administrative unit headed by a mayor, with an elected body of 25 to 30 members and an expanded boundary.
Image: Mhtoori / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
