Mohsin Naqvi: New Administrative Units Must Reflect People’s Will

Lahore: Speaking at the National Policy Dialogue in Lahore, Naqvi said the proposed “reset” of the governance system did not mean dismantling it, but fixing shortcomings through political consensus and democratic means.

He stressed that the creation of new units could not be based on the wishes of an individual, political party or government. Instead, parliament, experts and political stakeholders should debate the proposal, assess its administrative and financial implications and ultimately seek public approval.

Naqvi said Pakistan’s existing administrative system was failing to deliver effectively, pointing to shortcomings in education, access to clean drinking water and the backlog of court cases. He called for reforms aimed at improving governance and bringing government closer to citizens.

Supporting the idea of Islamabad province, Naqvi said the federal capital should receive its due share from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, arguing that declaring Islamabad a province could help secure the rights of its residents.

He maintained that administrative reforms would not threaten provincial, ethnic or regional identities. “No one will be asked to surrender their identity,” he said, adding that the objective should be better governance rather than creating divisions.

Naqvi reiterated that all political parties would need to deliberate on the issue and that no administrative change should be imposed without public consent.

His earlier calls for new provinces and administrative reforms had triggered a debate across the country, with opposition from several political and regional groups.