New administrative units will be created, neither an individual nor political party or representatives can stop them: Mohsin Naqvi

LAHORE, September 5: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that new administrative units will be created in Pakistan and neither an individual, political party nor any representative can stop the process. He said he would not back down from his position on the issue, whether he remained in office or not.

Addressing the National Policy Dialogue, Mohsin Naqvi said changes to Pakistan’s administrative structure had become a necessity and the creation of new provinces or administrative units was inevitable. He said the matter could not be made subject to the wishes of any individual or political party.

“Do whatever you want, I will not back down from this. Whether I remain in this job or not, I will not retreat from this position,” he said.

The interior minister made it clear that the creation of new administrative units was not intended to undermine the identity of any province or community. “We are not taking away anyone’s identity. Punjabis will remain Punjabis, Sindhis will remain Sindhis, Pashtuns will remain Pashtuns and Baloch will remain Baloch,” he said.

Naqvi said the objective of creating new administrative units was to improve governance, bring administrative authority closer to the people and ensure better delivery of public services.

He said he supported the idea of making Islamabad a province, arguing that the federal capital should have an administrative and financial structure capable of providing its residents with better services and their due rights.

The interior minister said the creation of new provinces or administrative units should be pursued through public consultation, political dialogue and the constitutional process. However, he added that political opposition should not be allowed to prevent a necessary administrative reform.

He said Pakistan’s population had increased significantly, placing greater pressure on the existing administrative structure. Reforms were therefore needed to bring the system in line with the country’s present and future requirements.

Naqvi stressed that administrative reorganisation would not alter the cultural, ethnic or linguistic identities of the people. Rather, it would seek to make governance more effective and decision-making more accessible to citizens.

Referring to the future of the proposal, he said, “Mamdanis and Sadiq Khans will come now. Whether I remain in this job or not, I will not back down from this.”

He said the issue of new administrative units had now become a matter of national importance and called for serious discussion among political parties and all relevant stakeholders.