ISLAMABAD (The COW News Digital) Pakistan is reportedly considering a major administrative restructuring proposal that could increase the number of provinces from four to 12, alongside the possibility of holding a nationwide referendum before introducing a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
The proposal is aimed at improving governance, strengthening administrative efficiency and ensuring a more equitable distribution of development resources across the country, according to sources familiar with the preliminary discussions.
Under the suggested framework, Punjab could be divided into four provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into three, Balochistan into three and Sindh into two administrative units. If implemented, the plan would bring the total number of provinces in Pakistan to 12.
Sources indicated that initial discussions have considered moving towards the proposed constitutional amendment during the first half of 2027, with preliminary steps potentially beginning in the first quarter of the year.
However, the proposal remains at the consideration stage. No final decision has reportedly been made regarding provincial boundaries, administrative structures or the constitutional mechanism required to implement such a significant reorganisation.
A key element of the proposed plan is the possibility of conducting a nationwide referendum before initiating the constitutional amendment process.
The referendum would seek public opinion on the broader question of creating additional provinces, with the objective of securing public support and ensuring that the issue is not confined to political negotiations or party interests.
Supporters of the proposal believe that direct public consultation could help establish a broader consensus on administrative restructuring and reduce the risk of political confrontation.
According to the proposal’s underlying rationale, the restructuring is not intended to target any particular province or weaken the political or administrative status of existing provincial units.
Instead, proponents argue that Pakistan’s growing population, administrative challenges and uneven development require a more effective governance framework.
The proposed reforms are intended to bring government institutions closer to citizens, improve access to public services, strengthen accountability and ensure that development projects benefit communities across different regions.
Advocates of smaller administrative units believe they could make it easier for governments to identify local priorities, monitor public-sector performance and respond more efficiently to everyday public concerns.
The creation of additional provinces has historically been a politically sensitive issue in Pakistan, with debates often involving regional identity, electoral interests and the distribution of political power.
Supporters of the proposed approach argue that public opinion should take precedence over political considerations, with the matter evaluated primarily on the basis of administrative efficiency and public welfare.
Nevertheless, substantial challenges would remain, including determining geographical boundaries, allocating financial resources, establishing administrative responsibilities and addressing constitutional safeguards.
Any major restructuring of the existing provincial framework would require extensive political consultations and parliamentary deliberations.
The proposal’s supporters maintain that the creation of additional provinces should not be viewed as a competition between regions but as an administrative reform designed to improve citizens’ quality of life, promote development in underserved areas and make the state more accessible and accountable.
Further details regarding the proposed provincial boundaries, referendum arrangements and constitutional process have yet to be formally established.
