Published on, Sept. 2 -- September 2, 2025 1:59 AM

Dismissing new provinces as an "administrative response to political problems" ignores the scale of Pakistan's governance challenges. A recent article by a journalist in a renowned newspaper has once again dismissed the idea of creating new provinces in Pakistan as little more than a political plan - administrative band-aids applied to deep political wounds. While such skepticism is not new, it is misplaced.

The debate over new provinces is not a distraction from governance reform; it is at the very heart of it. The article points to Article 239 of the Constitution as proof that redrawing provincial boundaries is nearly impossible. This perspective twists the essence of the law. Article...