Ahsan Iqbal floats 12–15 provinces or 160 empowered district governments

September 06, 2026 (MLN): Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has proposed two major options for restructuring Pakistan’s administrative system, establishing empowered governments in 160 districts or creating 12 to 15 new provinces.

Clarifying his recent remarks on the issue, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s existing administrative structure had become overloaded as the country’s population approached 260 million, while social and human-resource indicators had continued to deteriorate.

He argued that the centralization of powers and resources at the provincial level following the 18th Amendment had weakened service delivery and contributed to poor social-sector outcomes.

According to the minister, one option would be to establish 160 empowered district governments, with resources transferred directly through Provincial Finance Commissions.

The alternative would be the creation of 12 to 15 new provinces through political consensus.

Ahsan Iqbal said the objective should be to transfer decision-making powers and resources closer to citizens, particularly in underdeveloped areas.

He stressed that effective implementation and local monitoring were critical for development projects and service delivery.

The minister said administrative restructuring should be debated above political interests and assessed according to Pakistan’s development requirements.

He also warned that systems unable to adapt to changing circumstances ultimately fail, arguing that Pakistan needed a more responsive administrative structure to accelerate development.

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