The debate over the creation of new provinces in Pakistan has gathered fresh momentum, with the federal government initiating consultations on the constitutional and legal requirements for the process.
According to government sources, the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Law have begun examining the legal framework needed to establish new administrative units.
Sources said consultations between the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Law have focused on the constitutional provisions governing the creation of new provinces.
The discussions come amid renewed political debate over the issue and are aimed at assessing the legal steps required before any proposal can move forward.
According to the sources, implementation of Article 249 of the Constitution has been identified as a mandatory requirement for the establishment of any new province.
Constitutional amendment required
Government sources said the creation of a new province cannot proceed without a constitutional amendment under Article 249.
They added that the resolutions previously passed by the Punjab Assembly and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly are not constitutionally sufficient on their own to establish a new province.
According to parliamentary sources, the constitutional process requires broader amendments beyond existing provincial resolutions.
Parliamentary sources said that at least articles 1, 51, 69 and 106 of the Constitution would have to be amended for the creation of a new province.
These amendments would be necessary to accommodate the administrative, legislative and electoral changes resulting from the addition of a new province.
Parliamentary representation to be revised
Sources said the establishment of a new province would require a comprehensive redistribution of representation across Pakistan's legislatures.
This would include revising the total number of provinces, reallocating Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assembly seats, and redetermining reserved seats for women and minorities.
Officials said these changes would have to be incorporated into the constitutional amendment package before implementation.
Two-thirds majority essential
According to parliamentary sources, the proposed constitutional amendment would require approval by a two-thirds majority in both Parliament and the relevant provincial assembly.
Only after securing the required constitutional support would the bill be forwarded to the President for assent.
Sources emphasized that if the concerned provincial assembly fails to pass the bill with the required two-thirds majority, the entire process of establishing a new province would become ineffective.
Defined in Constitution
Meanwhile, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said the procedure for creating a new province is clearly defined in the Constitution. He said the provincial assembly must pass a resolution with a two-thirds majority for the establishment of a new province.
According to Ghani, approval of such a resolution by the provincial assembly is a fundamental constitutional requirement. He acknowledged that demands for the creation of a new province are being raised in Sindh.
However, he said no individual or political party has so far submitted a resolution in the Sindh Assembly seeking the creation of a new province.
The constitutional consultations reflect growing official engagement with the issue as political discussions over the creation of new provinces continue.
While the legal review is underway, officials maintain that any move to establish a new province must strictly follow the constitutional procedure and obtain the necessary parliamentary and provincial approvals.
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