Proposed new provinces for Pakistan, "need of the hour"?

[mikkix]

All politics. If Karachi becomes its own province then MQM might lose influence in other parts of Sindh. Similarly if Punjab is broken up then PML-N will also lose influence in some parts.

PPP also opposes it, by your definition they will feel secure by not allowing Mqm in Sindh through new provinces but they disagree with Na Baap Maa Sharif...
Punjab Cm is unsecure of dividing punjab b/c the problem is PMLN is a G.T road party.

 

[PakiPatriot]

I think this idea need to be explored further.

 

[PakiPatriot]

An Interesting read:

The voices for dividing Punjab province recently are getting louder and louder. But do we really need to do it, what will be the consequences for this and what will be the advantages. I dont see any sane discussion going on the bigger picture. My personal view is that many people are calling it for their own personal petty agenda and they are not voicing it in the interest of Pakistan.

But if we think with an unbiased view and above our petty self interest, and truly for the well being of Pakistan than we can come to this conclusion that,

1. Pakistan has definitely developed but not uniformly, many smaller cities got over looked (not only in Punjab but in all provinces).

2. Facilities were not provided equally to the people of all regions,

3. Lot of potential is getting wasted.

4. The politics of language, color, breed is still strongest in Pakistan and we have not been able to go above and beyond, punjabi, pakhtoon, sindhi, balochi nationalism.

Dividing Punjab on linguistic basis will add one more nationalism (“saraiki&#8221 to the already afore mentioned list of nationalisms, which is destructive for our unity & development.

Also Pakistan has at least 32 languages. Punjabi is spoken by 44% of Pakistan (almost 90 million) and chitrali is spoken is in just one district (less 0.5 million). So this will not only further divide as a nation, but will give rise to more Big Brother, small brother politics & economic growth will be further hampered, as many of the linguistic based provinces will not be economically viable.

But i think if all the provinces are divided in the best interest of Pakistan, then many benefits can be achieved.

1. More provinces means more cities will be developed and all the population load which is coming into either Karachi or Lahore can be reduced.

2. More provinces means more people will be empowered to choose their destiny.

3. Better distribution of resources of Pakistan.

4. It may give rise to Pakistani nationalism then the punjabi, sindhi, pashto, balochi nationalism, if the division is not based on languages.

5. It probably will allow the politician to seriously work for their people, once they dont have big brother “Punjab” to blame for everything.

These are the reason which compelled me and my friend (more work done by him) to come up with a new provincial division for Pakistan. This is a suggestion and all and every input which comes with the sole interest of betterment of Pakistan will be appreciated.

We divided Pakistan into 12 provinces and federal capital Islamabad. Mostly the existing districts are not divided except for in couple of places. apart from above mentioned reasons, railway links, road network, rivers and canals flow were also considered while recommending these new provinces. Although we are not experts on these fields so we put lot of common sense and and more importantly the interest of Pakistan while making these divisions.

Also the name of the new provinces are not based on cast, language or one identity in most of the cases. These names have some historic or geographic perspective. Present names of all the provinces except Sindh do not have much historic background.

Many critical issues of Pakistan like Kalabagh Dam are not resolved due to the Sindhi-punjabi politics. Once new proposed provinces are made, many of these issues will be resolved amicably as indus river would not be under “takht-e-Lahore” rule. Most of the proposed provinces are linguistically heterogeneous & geographically strongly bonded. Many smaller languages will also get chance to flourish because majority languages will not be in absolute (2/3rd) majority to over shadow minority languages as in the present provinces.

Below are the suggested new Provinces for Pakistan.

Now a bit details about these Provinces:

Cholistan Province
Capital: Bahawalpur
Linguistic Composition: Saraiki, Punjabi, urdu
Districts:
Bahawalpur, bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan
Current Estimated Population: 10 million

Logic: Geographically on the right side of the Satluj river. Linguistically heterogeneous. Currently under developed & under utilized. Much farther from the existing capital Lahore. New capital Bahawalpur will be in the middle of the province. It is already linked with N5 National Highway and main railway line and has a high court bench.

Ravi Province
Capital: Lahore
Linguistic Composition: Punjabi, urdu
Districts:
Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Nankana sb, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad (partly)
Current Estimated Population: 36.4 Million

Logic: Right side of Chanab

Gandhara Province
Capital: Joharabad (District khusaab)
Linguistic Composition: Potohari, saraiki, punjabi, pashto,
Districts: Rawalpindi (partly), jehlum, attock, chakwal, gujrat, mandi bahuddin, Sargodha, Khusaab, Jhang, Mianwali, bhakkar, laiyya, chinot, DG Khan partly
Current Estimated Population: 24 Million

Logic: under developed western punjab area, would get great benefit from developing new cities, like Joharabad. Joharabad is in the center of Province. North of Joharabad is potohari, East is Punjab and South is Saraiki dominant districts. Therefore the new provincial capital will be the meeting point of all three rich culture and hence will be the torch bearer of development and homogeneity for this province. The new capital city Jauharabad will not face water shortages as river Jehlum passes by it.

Panjnad Province
Capital: Multan
Linguistic Composition: Saraiki, Punjabi, urdu, Balochi
Districts: Multan, Lodharan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Vehari, Pakpattan, Faisalabad (partly), TT Singh, Muzaffargarh, DG Khan Partly, Rajanpur
Estimated Population: 24M

Logic: Multan is already the hub of cultural and political center for southern Punjab. Panjnad Province will become focus of agriculture and dairy products. Multan is also in the middle of the proposed Panjnad province and is well connected with near by towns and cities and rest of Pakistan. Proposed Panjnad Province will have significant punjabi province in north eastern districts, urdu in the urban areas, Balochi in western districts & Saraik in central & western districts.

Bolan Province
Capital: Quetta,
Linguistic Composition: Pashto, Balochi, Brahvi
Districts: Quetta, Ziarat, Mastung, Qila Abdullah, Pashin, Lora Lai, Barkhan, Musakhel, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Shirani, Harnai, Sibi, Kolhu, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Jhal magsi, Kacchi (Bolan)
Estimated Population: 6 Million

Logic: The Bolan province will approximately be same as British Balochistan of Colonial era. veteran leaders from balochistan, like ex-Prime Minister from Balochistan, Mir Zafar Ullah Khan Jamali, Mehmood Khan Achakzai has also once expressed their approval in dividing balochistan in Quetta & Kalat division of 1970s. The heterogenous Bolan Province is amalgam of Pashtun, Balochi & Brahvi culture. Quetta has representation from all three cultures.

Makran Province
Capital: Khuzdar
Linguistic Composition: Balochi, Brahvi,
Districts: Khuzdar, Kalat, Noshki, Chaghi, Kharan, Washuk, Panjgor, Turbat, Gawadar, Awaran, Lasbela
Estimated Population: 3 M

Logic: Khuzdar Province is one of the richest areas of Pakistan with minerals resources. It also has Gawadar Port, Gadani ship breaking yard. Saindak & Rekodek are also located in this province. Proposed Provincial Capital, Khuzdar, is already well connected with Quetta, Karachi, Larkana through RCD road & M8 Motorway. Within proposed Province all major cities like Lasbella, Turbet, Gawadar & Kalat are also connected with khuzdar.

Khyber Province
Capital: Peshawar
Linguistic Composition: Pashto, Saraiki
Districts: Peshawar, Noshera, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Laki marwat, Bannu, DI Khan, Tank
Estimated Population: 9.75 Million

Logic: Proposed Kalabagh Dam will benefit southern districts of proposed khyber Province, Tank & DI Khan at the cost of some land of Noshera District. Royalty from the Kalabagh & Munda Dam & also the natural gas resorvoir of Karak will make the province economically viable.

Abaseen Province
Capital: Mardan
Linguistic Composition: Pashto, Hindko, Kohistani, Chitrali
Districts: Mardan, Sawabi, Haripur, Abottabad, Manshera, Torghar, Batagram, Kohistan, Shangla, Sawat, Bonair, Dir bala, Dir payin, Malakand, Chitral
Estimated Population: 13 M

Logic: Comprosing of the northern areas, this province have the potential to truly exploit tourism industry. Tarbella & Bhasha Dam would provide substantial revenue stream for the development of the province and has high potential to generate hydro-electricity. Mardan is chosen as the capital, because, firstly it is in planar district and is accessible all year around from both Hazara & Malakand divisions.

Khorasan Province
Capital: Torkham
Linguistic Composition: Pashto,
Districts: Bajur, Mohmand, Torkham (Khyber Agency), Kurram, Orakzai, North waziristan, South waziristan
Estimated Population: 5 Million

Logic: Making FATA as a province will start the era of economic growth and amalgamation of the region with the rest of the country. It will also help to remove the sense of depravity in the people.

Sindh uttar Province
Capital: Sukkar
Linguistic Composition: Sindhi
Districts: Sukkar, Ghotki, Khairpur, Noshero feroz, shikarpur, Larkana, Kambar, Kashmor, Jacobabad, Dadu, Jamshoro (partly)
Estimated Population: 13.5 M

Logic: Other than Hyderabad, interior sindh is also one of the most deprived areas of the country, which even after having potential in many different fields is backward and under developed. Sukkar is already the economic & cultural center of the northern sindh and have full potential to become one of the key economic city of Pakistan. Also it is well connected with Karachi, Quetta & Northern Pakistan through road, air & railway.

Sindh Dakshin Province
Capital: Hyderabad
Linguistic Composition: Sindhi, urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, balochi, gujrati, marwari
Districts: Karachi, Jamshoro (partly), Hyderabad, Matiari, TM Khan, Tandu alayar, mirpur khas, umar kot, tharparkar, badin, thatta, nawabshah, sanghar
Estimated Population: 26 Million.

Logic: Third largest city in 1951 & the historic capital of sindh in pre-colonial era, has lost its glory by being overshadowed by Karachi. Also it is the convergence point of Sindhi & Urdu cultures, two main cultures of the proposed province. Also Karachi is over burdened by being the port & only industrial city in southern Pakistan. By shifting capital to hyderabad will allow Hyderabad to flourish & reduce population inflow in Karachi.

Karakoram Province
Capital: Gilgit
Linguistic Composition: Shina, Burushaski, Balti
Districts: gilgit, Diamir, Astor, skardu, hunza-nagar, ghanchi, girghiz,
Estimated Population:1.8 M

Logic: By making the current Gilgit-Baltistan as a Province will give them equal rights as the rest of the pakistan & start new era of economic & cultural development in the area.

Federal Capital,
Islamabad + Rawalpindi City.
Current Estimated Population: 2.5 Million

Logic: Rawalpindi city is already surrounded by Islamabad from 3 sides. So making it part of Islamabad is a natural choice.

Benefits:
1. The biggest benefit from these new provinces will be the development of new cities. Currently the population inflow is only in Karachi and some cities of central Punjab. Cities like Multan, Bahawalpur, Sukkar, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sahiwal & others, while having potential to become a modern cities, remains under developed as the economic growth is polarized on Karachi & central Punjab. By developing new provinces many cities will get chance to flourish.

2. The proposed provinces do not have large population difference like currently between Punjab & Balochistan.

3. Smaller provinces will help people to reach provincial capital easily. Also it will ease the management of the province.

http://caylu.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/new-provinces-for-pakistan-probably-the-need-of-the-hour/

 

[Omar1984]

I think you could have come up with a better name than "Ravi" for Central Punjab. Ravi is a name of every other kid in India. Then people will say your province is called ravi and you are indian


If Central Punjab must be made into a province then it should be named after Allama Iqbal because he was from Sialkot, Punjab.

 

[Majnun]

Furore in Sindh as Shahbaz calls for Karachi province | Provinces | DAWN.COM

Furore in Sindh as Shahbaz calls for Karachi province

DERA GHAZI KHAN / KARACHI: The Sunday calm was shattered by the pronouncements of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who finally broke his party’s silence on the demand for a Seraiki province.

Mr Sharif, who has been known to issue and later retract controversial statements, said the PML-N would soon formulate a comprehensive policy on the creation of new provinces within Punjab and elsewhere in the country.

He then made the explosive suggestion that Karachi should be separated from Sindh and made a province.

“Not only should new provinces be formed in South Punjab, Karachi should also be made a new province,” he said while talking to newsmen in Dera Ghazi Khan after laying down the foundation stone of a public school.

He said this in response to questions about the growing calls for making South Punjab a separate province.

This was PML-N’s first public reaction to the idea of partitioning the Punjab province since Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s recent announcement that the demand for a Seraiki province would be made part of the PPP manifesto.

Although the PPP is yet to formally accept Mr Gilani’s announcement, the prime minister’s words created additional pressure on the PML-N.

The latter cannot publicly support the demand for a province in south Punjab — not only will a separate province affect its seat numbers at the national level and the resources it has access to while ruling in Lahore, the party’s leadership from central Punjab is also not in favour of the idea.

This is why Mr Sharif’s statement on Sunday was seen to be a gentle warning to those pushing for Punjab’s division.

He was pointing out that the creation of new provinces in Punjab would open a Pandora’s box — other linguistic and ethnic groups in other provinces would also want their own administrative units.

And by mentioning Karachi, Mr Sharif was trying to make sure that his message was being heard by those the PML-N views as being behind the demand for a Seraiki province, especially the PPP.

No wonder then that the reaction from Karachi was swift and decisive. Both the PPP and MQM rejected the division of Sindh in general and Karachi’s separation in particular.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that there was no need for a new province in Sindh as there was complete harmony among the people and their representatives in the assembly were striving for the welfare of the people.

He said this to a group of journalists who had drawn his attention to Mr Sharif’s statement.

Mr Shah pointed out that the two provinces were different. “There is a vast difference between Sindh and Punjab. Punjab is two or three times larger than Sindh and there was a demand by people in Punjab for carving out a new province.”

In contrast there was no such call for a new province in Sindh, he said and added that “as far as Karachi is concerned, it is part of the Sindh province.”

The MQM did not lag behind either and a provincial minister, Raza Haroon, said: “We condemn the statement of Shahbaz Sharif… We see his statement as a conspiracy against Sindh and an attempt to create ethnic riots.”

He told reporters that Mr Sharif had no mandate to speak about Sindh. “The PML-N has no MPA in the Sindh Assembly and it has been rejected by the people of Sindh. He is the chief minister of Punjab and he should better give all attention to his province.”

The party’s Rabita Committee also stated that it would not accept Sindh’s division.

However, a committee member, Qasim Ali Raza, explained that the MQM had repeatedly said that a referendum should be held to decide on the formation of new provinces and the demands of people be fulfilled in accordance with their aspirations.

Even the ANP, a new entrant to Karachi politics, supported the MQM and the PPP’s stand as it said that Mr Sharif had hurt the sentiments of the people of Sindh.

“The demand for Karachi province is a continuation of the attitude of exploitation of small province,” said the ANP spokesman in a statement, adding that Punjab ought to avoid issuing irresponsible statements that could create unrest among people.

The ANP was against a division of Sindh and would never support any suggestion aimed at depriving the smaller provinces of their due rights, the spokesman said.

 

[Majnun]

PakiPatriot who wrote this article?

 

[muse]

Furore in Sindh as Shahbaz calls for Karachi province

Zia's proteges will not rest -(ethnic and religious strife is mothers milk to them) And anyway, why furor? Why not the original divisions as provinces and the divisions with large populations can be divided Further still --- Multiple smaller provinces are a safeguard against political parties and politicians who imagine themselves to be greater than Pakistan, and lets face it, smaller provinces offer ease of administration and ease of delivery of government services -- and further still, smaller provinces allow for greater democracy in the sense that citizens can feel and be empowered.

Today, the four provinces under political parties and politicians are behaving as if they are four different countries and Pakistan some sort of idea that has run out of steam - this tendency ought to be arrested

 

[Moorkh]

in the map that has been provided, karachi isnt a capital for any of the provinces. is that intentional?

 

[PakiPatriot]

in the map that has been provided, karachi isnt a capital for any of the provinces. is that intentional?

Yes i think its intentional, as you can see the reason, which i feel is very right that Karachi is already too populated and too congested. if Capital is shifted to Hyderabad, another city will get developed and also the population inflow to karachi will minimize a bit. Moreover Hyderabad is at the center of the Province also which will make it more accessible.

I personally Believe capital from Lahore should also be shifted to some other city. So other cities get developed too and population spread out a bit more. Just an opinion.

 

[Omar1984]

Zia's proteges will not rest -(ethnic and religious strife is mothers milk to them) And anyway, why furor? Why not the original divisions as provinces and the divisions with large populations can be divided Further still --- Multiple smaller provinces are a safeguard against political parties and politicians who imagine themselves to be greater than Pakistan, and lets face it, smaller provinces offer ease of administration and ease of delivery of government services -- and further still, smaller provinces allow for greater democracy in the sense that citizens can feel and be empowered.

Today, the four provinces under political parties and politicians are behaving as if they are four different countries and Pakistan some sort of idea that has run out of steam - this tendency ought to be arrested

Dont be so sure about that. Our neighboring country Afghanistan is half the size of Pakistan and it has 34 provinces, and it has always had more ethnic conflicts than Pakistan and was always less developed than Pakistan.

Making more provinces will not make a prosperous Pakistan when we have the same kind of corrupt politicians running the country.

 

[Omar1984]

Yes i think its intentional, as you can see the reason, which i feel is very right that Karachi is already too populated and too congested. if Capital is shifted to Hyderabad, another city will get developed and also the population inflow to karachi will minimize a bit. Moreover Hyderabad is at the center of the Province also which will make it more accessible.

I personally Believe capital from Lahore should also be shifted to some other city. So other cities get developed too and population spread out a bit more. Just an opinion.

I dont think you know the history of Lahore well.

Historically, Lahore has been a center of cultural heritage for many civilizations. It successively served as regional capital of the empires of the Shahi kingdoms in the 11th century, the Ghaznavids in the 12th century, the Ghurid State in the 12th and 13th century, the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century, and it was the capital of the Punjab region under the British Raj in the mid 19th and early 20th century.

Lahore is the traditional capital of Punjab for a thousand years. Why do you think Indians chose to invade Lahore in 1965. Lahore is one of the most important cities in South/Central Asia.

 

[muse]

Ethnic problems of Afghanistan and the lack of development has much to do with geography - what with mountains making communications dificult, just compare the road network of Afghanistan and Pakistan

Making more provinces will not make a prosperous Pakistan when we have the same kind of corrupt politicians running the country.

Good point, perhaps we should revisit the constitution as well -- Why are Politicians corrupt? Supposedly when asked why he robbed banks, Jesse Jamses is said ot have responded "because that's where the money is" , I put it you that this is the reason why politicians are corrupt, they are supposed to be legislators, but not just our constitution but those of other democratic countries, allow politicians too much control and influence over the purse, plus the whole subsidy bit is just criminal, it's the most anti-democratic of things.

 

[muse]

Historically, Lahore has been a

I've notice you have a difficult time thinking about things from perspectives other than what you are used to - You know we don't have to live life as if it was a ritual, we can think and do things differently from the past, our problems are not the same as they were in the past and therefore our solutions don't have to be what they were in the past.

 

[Omar1984]

I've notice you have a difficult time thinking about things from perspectives other than what you are used to - You know we don't have to live life as if it was a ritual, we can think and do things differently from the past, our problems are not the same as they were in the past and therefore our solutions don't have to be what they were in the past.

Well, there is no other city like Lahore in the entire Punjab region and I am just being realistic. The chances of having more provinces in Pakistan are very slim, especially when we have politicians like these:


PPP, MQM, ANP reject Punjab CM’s proposal

KARACHI: The PPP, MQM and ANP have criticised Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif for demanding division of Sindh, saying they would not accept dismemberment of Sindh. Talking to media in Dera Ghazi Khan, Shahbaz said that PML-N would not oppose the creation of a Saraiki province in Punjab if more provinces were created in Pakistan, including Karachi as a separate province. A provincial minister of Sindh, belonging to PPP, Agha Siraj Durrani, said that his party would never allow break-up of the province, while an MQM spokesman said that the party would not let Sindh be divided under any circumstances. ANP Sindh chief said that Shahbaz’s statement had greatly disappointed people of the province. agencies


Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[muse]

You judge for yourself whether or not Pakistani political parties and politicians are persuaded by the idea of Pakistan or by some other ideas



Durrani warns Zardari against ‘Gilani’s trap’

* Ex information minister says some landlords planning to capture rich lands of Bahawalpur in name of Saraiki province

Staff Report

LAHORE: Former information minister Senator Mohammed Ali Durrani on Sunday warned President Asif Zardari against treading the path of ex-dictator Yahya Khan by denying restoration of Bahawalpur province.

Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, Durrani said that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and some influential landlords were planning to capture the rich lands of Bahawalpur, including the 6,400,000 acres of Cholistan area, in the name of a Saraiki province. Durrani said they would not let Bahawalpur turn into “a hunting ground” for some landlords from Multan and DG Khan, who had been given thousands of acres of land during the British Raj.

“Now, after plundering the poor people of Multan and DG Khan, some landlords from the PML-Q —who are not acceptable to President Zardari— are following a plan prepared by Gilani to appease Zardari by supporting his bid to usurp the 64 lakh acres of Cholistan land in the name of Saraiki province, but they don’t know the resilience of the people of Bahawalpur,” he remarked. Senator Durrani, who is also the chief of Muttahida Mahaz Bahawalpur, advised the prime minister to focus on resolving the problems of the country rather than dreaming to be chief minister of Saraiki province.

“This is also a test case for the PML-Q leadership and let us see whether they opt to be a part of a conspiracy hatched by some landlords against the people of Bahawalpur, or they support the cause of Bahawalpur province. But, let me warn all the conspirators that any bid to ignore the cause of Bahawalpur province would be resisted with force and it would prove to be the last nail in their political coffin,” he asserted.

“Let me tell you that behind-the-scenes consultations have ended and a national government would soon be announced. We hope that the national government would announce the restoration of Bahawalpur province in line with the commitment made by father of the nation,” he said. “I warn those who are conspiring against the people of Bahawalpur to mend their ways or they should be ready to face the worst kind of resistance in country’s history from the ignored, abused and deprived people of Bahawalpur. We are appreciative of all those, including the media, who support our cause,” he said.

Durrani said chief of Bahawalpur Awami Party, Nawab Slahuddin Abbasi, has instructed him to convey this caution to the conspirators through media, adding that the government should at least give as much respect to the agreement made by Quaid-e-Azam as it gives to its deeds with the IMF or the World Bank. Asked whether he was opposed to the creation of a Saraiki province, Durrani said the people of Bahawalpur were supportive of any province that did not clash with their just demand of restoration of Bahawalpur province. We are not opposed to creation of a province comprising Multan and DG Khan divisions. But anyone dreaming to rule Bahawalpur in the name of Saraiki province should stop this nonsense,” warned Durrani.