Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by Friday Times Lahore.
By Prof. Dr. Taimoor ul Hassan
Pakistan today stands at a defining moment. The shifting regional dynamics, from the evolving Central Asian trade corridors to the reconfiguration of global power alignments, have once again placed the country at the centre of geopolitical attention.
The question is not whether Pakistan can regain its rightful place as a pivot for regional stability, but how it can internally strengthen itself to play that role effectively. The answer lies in governance reform, specifically through the creation of smaller administrative units that bring the state closer to the people.
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For decades, Pakistan’s administrative structure has remained oversized and rigid, inherited from colonial arrangements unsuited to a population that has now crossed 240 million. Large provinces, uneven resource distribution, and distant decision-making centres have created an imbalance between local needs and state capacity. The consequences are visible in every sector: weakened service delivery, poor governance, and growing public disillusionment. The distance between rulers and the ruled has widened, and with it, trust in institutions has eroded. To reclaim internal strength, Pakistan must decentralize, not merely as a political slogan but as a structural necessity.
Smaller administrative units would not divide Pakistan; they would unite it through inclusion and participation. When governance becomes local, accountability deepens and citizens feel represented. Development becomes visible and contextual. Grievances find resolution before they mutate into alienation or conflict. The economic rationale for creating smaller provinces is equally strong: they would generate administrative efficiency, foster healthy competition among regions, and enhance fiscal management by aligning spending with local priorities rather than broad provincial averages that conceal inequality.
At the recent Indus Conclave, economist Miftah Ismail rightly argued that Pakistan’s governance model must evolve if it is to harness the potential of regional integration. His point resonates deeply; unless governance is recalibrated to match demographic and developmental realities, Pakistan cannot effectively benefit from its geographic advantage as the gateway to Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region. Smaller, responsive administrative units would allow Pakistan to manage its internal diversity while pursuing regional connectivity with confidence and coherence.
The idea is not new but newly urgent. Across the world, countries that have embraced decentralization, whether through provinces, states, or autonomous regions, have experienced stronger national cohesion and more balanced growth. In federations such as India, Nigeria, and Malaysia, the creation of new states or provinces has not weakened unity; it has instead brought governance closer to the citizen, improved public services, and diffused ethnic and regional tensions. Pakistan’s federal structure must evolve in the same direction, ensuring equitable access to resources and decision-making.
In Pakistan’s case, the imbalance between population size and administrative capacity is stark. Punjab alone has over 120 million people, larger than many countries, but is managed as a single provincial unit. Such concentration of population and power is administratively inefficient and politically fragile. Southern Punjab’s long-standing demand for a separate province reflects precisely this disconnect between population density, resource allocation, and representation. The same is true for Balochistan’s vast but underdeveloped areas, where governance remains distant and symbolic. Smaller provinces could transform these dynamics by making local governments meaningful and responsive.
This vision is in line with Mian Amer Mehmood, former Mayor of Lahore, who has long proposed the creation of smaller provinces to ensure balanced development and efficient governance. His proposal rests on the principle that governance must be scaled to population realities and local needs, not frozen in the administrative frameworks of the past. Smaller units, in his view, are not merely an administrative adjustment but a path toward justice, where every citizen, regardless of location, has equal access to state services and opportunities for growth. His perspective reinforces the notion that reforms must begin at home, by rethinking governance as the foundation for political stability and economic progress.
Moreover, decentralization is not only a matter of political structure but also of national survival in a rapidly changing world. The emerging economic corridors linking Central and South Asia, particularly the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and its potential extensions toward Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and beyond, require administrative agility and localized management. Infrastructure, trade facilitation, and industrial zones must be managed regionally for maximum efficiency. Smaller units would provide this flexibility, enabling Pakistan to better coordinate logistics, security, and investment with neighboring states.
A stronger, more cohesive Pakistan internally would also inspire greater confidence externally. Regional partners, investors, and international institutions look for stability rooted in governance capacity. When administrative systems function efficiently at the local level, the state’s overall capacity to manage crises, deliver services, and implement reforms improves. This in turn enhances Pakistan’s credibility as a partner in regional cooperation, from energy trade to climate adaptation and security frameworks.
The creation of smaller provinces is therefore not a narrow political issue but a broad developmental and strategic imperative. It will require consensus across political parties and federating units, guided by constitutional mechanisms. The process must be transparent and participatory, ensuring that new units are created on administrative and economic logic rather than ethnic or partisan lines. Pakistan’s diversity, if managed through efficient local governance, can become its greatest strength rather than a source of division.
If Pakistan aspires to be a pivot for regional stability, it must first stabilize its own governance architecture. The challenges of the twenty-first century, from economic shocks to climate disasters and digital transformation, cannot be addressed by an outdated, overcentralized administrative system. Smaller, empowered provinces would not only bridge the gap between state and citizen but also project Pakistan as a confident, well-governed nation capable of leadership in South and Central Asia.
The road ahead requires courage, consensus, and clarity of purpose. The strength of Pakistan lies not in its size but in its responsiveness to the aspirations of its people. A Pakistan restructured into smaller, empowered administrative units would not only ensure efficient governance but also fortify its claim as a regional pivot, stable, inclusive, and forward looking. This transformation would reflect a renewed social contract between state and society, one that promises representation, development, and dignity to every citizen.
Prof. Dr. Taimoor ul Hassan is a Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Central Punjab, Lahore.
A former Dean of Media Studies at Beaconhouse National University and the University of Central Punjab, he has served in senior academic and editorial roles for over two decades. His work focuses on media policy, governance reform, and the intersection of communication, politics, and public discourse in South Asia.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk.
