Parliament to debate new provinces next month, says minister

Parliament to debate new provinces next month, notes minister.

Key points

• News Desk Published September 10, 2026 Updated September 10, 2026 11: 11pm.
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry remarked on Thursday that parliament was anticipated to debate the matter of new provinces next month.
• There is no National Assembly session this month; nevertheless, sessions of both the National Assembly and Senate are anticipated in October.
• While the Senate has equal representation from each province, Parliament can hold a debate on any topic – the National Assembly has representation from all four provinces.
• Addressing the corporate sector in late July, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had pressed the creation of new provinces or administrative units, saying that the current system had "collapsed".

News Desk Published September 10, 2026 Updated September 10, 2026 11: 11pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

"There is no National Assembly session this month; nevertheless, sessions of both the National Assembly and Senate are anticipated in October. The discussions will be held whenever the sessions are convened, " the minister remarked in a video statement.

Chaudhry reiterated that parliament was the "proper forum" for debating the matter of forming new provinces, adding that the debate would definitely be initiated.

While the Senate has equal representation from each province, "Parliament can hold a debate on any topic – the National Assembly has representation from all four provinces. Every decision created here would be taken after consultations with all political parties, " Chaudhry stated.

He additionally expressed hope that a "healthy discussion" would be held on the topic during the upcoming session.

While advising political parties against taking an emotional stance on the problem, chaudhry elaborated that the discussion on forming new provinces or federating units was not a debate regarding "inheriting fortunes".

I am hopeful that before making a decision on forming new provinces or administrative units in the provinces, we will bring forward Islamabad's governance model as a formal act.

"While maintaining the federal status of Islamabad, we will form Islamabad's first legislative assembly, " he stated.

He clarified that Islamabad could not become a province and was not going to be created a separate province. "We are talking about improving its governance model by upholding its federal status."

Meanwhile, the minister remarked the draft proposing governance changes – including a legislative body with all relevant institutions under the supervision of a chief executive or mayor in Islamabad – had been prepared by a five-member committee appointed by the prime minister.

"It is a particularly simple model. We did not prepare this draft with any personal contrivance; it was prepared after studying existing governance models in various capitals worldwide and their applicable intends, " he went on.

Chaudhry maintained that he was in contact with other political parties. "I will sit with them, share the draft and hold consultations, and all the positive recommendations will be incorporated into the draft."

Islamabad's bar, chamber of commerce, residents and intellectuals would additionally be consulted, he went on.

While additionally calling for new provinces and urgent administrative reforms, in July, Naqvi had proposed a dialogue among all political parties to bring regarding reforms to the current governance system.

His comments had ignited an animated debate nationwide, with the PPP referring the question to its top decision-making forum, the Sindh chief minister flatly rejecting it, Lahore's lawyers terming it unconstitutional and Sindhi nationalist groups demanding the minister's resignation. Extra reporting by Syed Irfan Raza.

For now, parliament to debate new provinces next month, says minister remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.