Lahore (HRNW)- Former Federal Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has called for the creation of new provinces, saying Bahawalpur and Hazara should be established first and arguing that Pakistan’s governance system cannot function effectively without empowered local government institutions.
Speaking at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, Durrani said constitutional requirements for establishing Bahawalpur and Hazara provinces had been fulfilled. He announced that a constitutional amendment would be presented in the National Assembly and Senate for the creation of the two provinces.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had passed resolutions supporting Hazara province three times, while Punjab had also passed a resolution regarding Bahawalpur province.
Durrani argued that stronger local governments are essential for improving governance and ensuring that people’s problems reach authorities directly. He criticized the practice of allocating funds through chief ministers rather than strengthening elected local government institutions.
He said he was not opposed to the creation of additional provinces but believed Bahawalpur and Hazara should be established first, followed by further provinces through a gradual constitutional process.
Discussing Sindh’s provincial issues, Durrani criticized former president Asif Ali Zardari, alleging that political opposition emerges whenever public-interest issues move forward. He also expressed support for the Kalabagh Dam.
Durrani said Pakistan’s current governance structure remains incomplete without local government institutions and argued that countries can progress under different political systems but face difficulties when operating under a hybrid system.
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