Pakistan’s Politicians Debate New Provinces Amid Ongoing Governance Crisis, Highlighting Calls for Constitutional Reform.

The Express Tribune editorial notes that Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently said Pakistan’s political system has collapsed and is increasingly driven by a handful of families and elites. Those remarks have sparked a heated discussion about the country’s political and constitutional future. In addition to the minister’s comments, a map proposing new provincial boundaries is circulating. Supporters of the proposal warn that creating more provinces—potentially raising the count from four to fourteen—could threaten Pakistan’s constitution and federal structure. The writer also cites economist and civil servant Dr. Ishrat Husain, who argues that good governance is the key issue. He stresses that institutional effectiveness, economic stability and public trust are the foundations of national security. The editorial points out that Pakistan has experimented with many forms of government: parliamentary systems, presidential rule, martial law, caretaker administrations and frequent constitutional amendments. Yet each change has left the same problems and the country has returned to the starting point—an “aha” moment described by the Hindi proverb dhaak ke teen paat, meaning the situation has not changed. The author warns that new provincial boundaries or administrative changes may distract from real governance concerns. He argues that achieving good governance requires expanding the economy, broadening the tax net, strengthening institutions and ensuring equal distribution of resources. He also notes that large parts of the wealthy population are outside an effective tax system and that areas such as Malakand, the former Fata region, Gilgit‑Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are largely excluded from federal and provincial tax systems. The editorial concludes that creating new provinces would add administration costs, reduce fiscal space and be counter‑productive. Instead, it calls for respect for the constitution, strong institutions and impartial law enforcement as the true solution to Pakistan’s challenges.