Web Desk: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi advocated viewing the creation of new provinces through a constructive lens, emphasising that citizens deserve the right to decide their preferred administrative setup.
Speaking in an interview with Azaad Digital, Naqvi noted that detailed discussions regarding new provinces and administrative units remain underway. Authorities must carefully analyse how and to what extent Pakistan can establish additional administrative entities.
The interior minister stressed that stakeholders should refrain from viewing the issue purely through a political lens. Instead, officials must prioritise public necessity and improved governance. He expressed optimism that progress will occur with a positive approach, granting citizens the opportunity to voice their views.
Naqvi highlighted that the central question relies on what the residents of these regions actually desire, asserting that decision-makers must grant utmost importance to local needs and public choice.
Expanding on administrative structures, Naqvi pointed out that various international jurisdictions feature robust regional systems. Countries across Europe alongside the United Kingdom utilise diverse models to devolve power down to the local level.
He argued that Pakistan must allow emerging leaders to step forward, as local representatives understand community issues more effectively and can implement meaningful solutions. Naqvi expressed a strong desire to see more talented political leaders rise from the grassroots level within Pakistan.
To illustrate his point, Naqvi cited London Mayor Sadiq Khan, New York politician Zohran Mamdani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who all built strong foundations through regional leadership. He reiterated his hope that Pakistan nurtures multiple leaders capable of providing impactful governance locally and nationally.
Meanwhile, amidst ongoing debates regarding new administrative units, officials have accelerated preparations to run Islamabad under a fresh governance framework.
Reports indicate that a high-level special committee recently submitted a proposed draft regarding Islamabad’s future administrative blueprint to the Prime Minister.
The draft recommends establishing a 27-member assembly for Islamabad, complete with its own chief executive and dedicated administrative departments.
Under the proposal, voters will directly elect 21 assembly members, while the plan reserves five seats for women and one for minority communities. Furthermore, officials are considering distributing these assembly seats based on Islamabad’s existing National Assembly constituencies.
While the government continues to evaluate multiple options for regional administration, the Islamabad proposal remains a preliminary draft. Final implementation will proceed only after completing all necessary legal and constitutional procedures.
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