Javed Chaudhry Claims Differences Over New Provinces Resolved, Islamabad to Get New Status

LAHORE:Senior analyst Javed Chaudhry has claimed that differences over the creation of new provinces and administrative units have been resolved following a three-hour meeting between two senior figures on Wednesday night.

Speaking on a podcast, Chaudhry described the development as significant, saying that speculation and disagreements surrounding the issue had now eased. He said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi appeared particularly active following the meeting.

According to Chaudhry, the outcome of the reported meeting could be the introduction of a new governance arrangement for Islamabad, with further administrative units potentially being considered in other parts of the country at a later stage.

However, the government has previously clarified that Islamabad is **not being converted into a separate province**. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the capital would retain its federal status while a new governance model, potentially including a legislative assembly, was being considered. Parliament is expected to debate the broader issue of new provinces in October.

The debate over new provinces has intensified in recent weeks. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has publicly supported the creation of new provinces or administrative units, while Federal Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousuf has also described smaller administrative units as necessary to address population growth and governance challenges.

Meanwhile, Federal Health Minister and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal has strongly advocated the creation of new administrative units, particularly in Sindh.

Addressing a press conference, Kamal said the creation of additional units was not unconstitutional and argued that smaller administrative structures could improve governance and public service delivery. He rejected claims that creating new units would necessarily lead to violence.

Kamal also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying that opposition to new administrative units was linked to political considerations and vested interests. He argued that creating additional units in Sindh would not lead to bloodshed but could improve administrative affairs.

Commenting on the role of Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Kamal praised what he described as his role in dealing with international and regional conflicts, including issues involving Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Iran and Afghanistan. These were Kamal’s political assessments and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.

Kamal also defended MQM-P’s past political decisions, saying his party had taken action against its own founder and leader, Altaf Hussain, when it concluded that his political direction was no longer acceptable to the party. He claimed that MQM-P had taken steps to end violence in Karachi.

He further accused the PPP of using what he called the “Sindh card” to defend itself against criticism and alleged that the party had previously engaged with individuals associated with violence in Karachi. The PPP and Sindh government have rejected MQM-P’s criticism and defended provincial autonomy and the existing constitutional framework.

The debate over new provinces and administrative units is expected to continue in Parliament, with the government saying that any constitutional changes would require the prescribed parliamentary process and consultations among political stakeholders.