PPP questions PM Shehbaz’s silence on new provinces

PPP questions PM Shehbaz's silence on new provinces.

Key points

• Syed Irfan Raza Published September 5, 2026 Updated September 5, 2026 07: 17am.
• Talking to Dawn on Friday, PPP Parliamentarians Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari sought the prime minister's position on the matter.
• Responding to a question regarding the local administration system in the country, Mr Bokhari noted any move in that regard must additionally follow the Constitution, particularly Article 140-A.
• Nayyar Bokhari insists constitutional procedure, provincial consent are essential Rana Sanaullah notes no such bill, resolution or preparations at present underway.
• Though no official plan has been unveiled, media reports have suggested proposals ranging from eight to as plenty of as 30 provinces.

Syed Irfan Raza Published September 5, 2026 Updated September 5, 2026 07: 17am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD: The PPP, a key ally of the PML-N-led ruling coalition, has questioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's silence over the debate on creating new provinces and sought his stance on the matter.

For context, the PPP had earlier maintained that any move to create extra federating units must follow the procedure laid down in the Constitution. Nevertheless, the PPP-led Sindh administration on Wednesday obtained a resolution passed by the provincial assembly opposing any further division of the country's existing four provinces.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday reiterated that no preparations were at present under way for the creation of new provinces.

During parliamentary proceedings last month, PPP lawmaker Agha Rafi­ullah had called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to come to the National Assembly and offer a policy statement on the problem of new provinces.

Although there has been no official confirmation regarding the origin or contours of any proposal, a debate over the creation of new federating units has continued for the past couple of months in different circles. Nevertheless, some ruling-party leaders and federal cabinet members have publicly expressed backing for the idea at different forums, including parliament.

"We want to know what the stance of the prime minister on new provinces is, as no statement is coming from him, whereas a number of federal cabinet members are apparently supporting the plan, " Mr Bokhari remarked.

"It is a very serious issue which has jolted the existing federating units, but the PM is silent on such an important issue, " he continued.

According to Mr Bokhari, if the administration was serious regarding increasing the number of provinces, it should first bring the matter before the federal cabinet, after which the prime minister should take all stakeholders and political parties on board.

While deliberations preceding the 18th Constitutional Amendment had lasted for more than a year, he recalled that consultations between the administration and political parties had continued for months during the framing of the 1973 Cons­titution.

Mr Bokhari, who additionally raised the problem during a talk show on DawnNewsTV on Friday, noted the consent of the provinces was essential for carving out new federating units. He remarked any such move would additionally require the necessary constitutional amendment to be passed by both the National Assembly and Senate with a two-thirds majority.

Meanwhile, the PML-N-led administration enjoys a two-thirds majority in the National Asse­mbly with the PPP's backing. Therefore, if the PPP pulled back its backing, it would become impossible for the administration to implement the idea.

Responding to a question regarding the local administration system in the country, Mr Bokhari noted any move in that regard must additionally follow the Constitution, particularly Article 140-A. It provides for the establishment of local governments by the provinces.

Meanwhile, Mr Sanaullah informed a private television channel that no bill or resolution regarding the creation of new provinces had been presented in parliament.

He remarked consultation and consensus among political parties would be essential before any such bill or resolution could be brought before parliament.

Responding to a question, he remarked there was at present no discussion under way regarding the division of the existing provinces. Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2026.

For now, PPP questions PM Shehbaz's silence on new provinces remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.