Making Smaller Provinces Intellectually

[Islamabad Rulz]

There has been a constant talk about making smaller provinces based on administrative needs rather than ethnic basis. Following has to be considered:


Ignoring wants of the concerned people: Just drawing lines on sand/soil based on Longitude and Latitude without considering Cultures, Wants and Aspirations of the people, (just because someone in the office who is not representing them and decide while drinking tea that it is a smart Idea) is bound to fail. These are the mistakes that British and other colonizers made (intentionally or unintentionally) and many people including Pakistan is suffering because of that.. Kashmir is struggling for independence for Religion, which has nothing to do with "administration", similarly, Kurdistan was divide overlooking the ethnicity of the people, Turks, Arabs, and Irainies are still trying to manage it.. not to mention the suffering of Kurds, themselves.


Rebutting a misconception: Be aware that yes Afghanistan has more than 30 provinces, but those provinces are as big as our districts, so if we are so impressed by them lets do away with provinces altogether and lets call districts provinces, we will have more provinces than Afghanistan.

In India provinces have been made on linguistic basis and all the major languages have official status and are strongly supported by the government. This is a practice that happens in most developed countries where languages of the provinces get official status and are supported by the government. Uthar Pardesh has more population than pakistan, Urdu is one of the official language there, just like Kashmiri in India Occupied Kashmir.

If size is the issue, California, Texas, Alaska, etc are as big as Pakistan, similar examples can be seen in the rest of the world.

YES GLOBALLY PROVINCES ARE MADE ON ETHNIC BASIS (CONSIDERING YOU ARE READING THIS SO YOU CAN GOOGLE IT RIGHT NOW)


Regional Languages: Pakistan doesn't allocate much resources to regional languages and they fail to understand that language is the primary source of transmision of culture. If we include one punjabi district in Saraiki province 50 years from now that district will be saraiki, for sure. So we cannt favor one language over the other.


Elephant in the room: Whether we agree with or not the reality is that South Punjab province is the call of Saraiki people, similarity hindkowans want there own province, Urdu speaking wants south sindh etc etc... BUT IN MY OPINION there is nothing wrong with that and establishment should no be insecured i.e. no one is asking for separate country. And considering Pakistan is a federation all the stakeholders should be taken on board.

Takeaways:

a) South punjab provinces should only include Saraiki speaking areas and areas such as Okara, Jhang, Sargodha which are punjabi should not be included in south punjab province, as this will start more problems.

b) Local Languages have to be supported by the government and should be made official.

c) Also if Saraiki provinces is created similar to Saraikis in Punjab, more than 10 districts in Baluchistan are Pashto speaking, which may ask for their own province.

d) Local districts should be given a choice on whether they want to be a part of new province, to address the want of the people at the grass root level.

 

[Sharpshooter12]

If we include one punjabi district in Saraiki province 50 years from now that district will be saraiki, for sure. So we cannt favor one language over the other.

Sir I am a Pothohari, we have 2 districts that speak our language out of 36 districts in Punjab. But after more than 70 years of staying within Pakistani Punjab we have not lost our language. Punjabi and Saraiki languages does not have the capacity to overwhelm each other or even the smaller regional languages for that matter. Its the Urdu that is threatening the smaller languages as in Punjab most Punjabi, Saraiki or Pothohari speaking people teach Urdu as the first language to their children. So sorry I don't buy into this theory.

Just drawing lines on sand/soil based on Longitude and Latitude without considering Cultures, Wants and Aspirations of the people, (just because someone in the office who is not representing them and decide while drinking tea that it is a smart Idea) is bound to fail. These are the mistakes that British and other colonizers made (intentionally or unintentionally) and many people including Pakistan is suffering because of that.. Kashmir is struggling for independence for Religion, which has nothing to do with "administration", similarly, Kurdistan was divide overlooking the ethnicity of the people, Turks, Arabs, and Irainies are still trying to manage it.. not to mention the suffering of Kurds, themselves.

We are not talking about drawing national borders here. A saraiki living in Punjab will be able to move freely to Multan, a Punjabi living in Vihari(once that becomes a part of South Punjab) could still attend marriage of his relatives in Sheikhupura. This point is only valid sir if you think that balkanization of Pakistan is possible, and when all the federating units will want to go their own way such boundaries will matter.

In India provinces have been made on linguistic basis and all the major languages have official status and are strongly supported by the government. This is a practice that happens in most developed countries where languages of the provinces get official status and are supported by the government. Uthar Pardesh has more population than pakistan, Urdu is one of the official language there, just like Kashmiri in India Occupied Kashmir.

I completely agree with that.

Also if Saraiki provinces is created similar to Saraikis in Punjab, more than 10 districts in Baluchistan are Pashto speaking, which may ask for their own province.

They already are, PKMAP's whole politics revolves around that, they call it south Pukhtun Khawa. But there the establishment is wary of the demand. One it will make the remaining Baluchistan overwhelmingly Baluch, and this is thought not to be an ideal situation. Currently Pushtuns make around 40 percent of the population and hence any call for a free Baluchistan sounds even more ludicrous. Two PKMAP is more loya shoya kind of a party, even more than the ANP so nobody wants them to get hold of a complete federating unit.

North Baluchistan's merger with KPK is a viable option though, if Hazara gets its own province KPK can be compensated with North Baluchistan. But over the years, KPK's politicians have not been warm towards this suggestion as the HDI level in upper Baluchistan is far lower than that of KPK(still higher than FATA though) and that part does not have much mineral resources. Because of the recent war, FATA will get special funding and attention from the federal government so KPK was more than willing to take them into their fold but that will not be the case of Upper Baluchistan.

 

[Imran Khan]

smller provinces will be life oxigion for our country make provinces before people start asking for new countries . people living in rahim yar khan dg khan muzzafar gardh districts like cattles and no one give flying F in lahore.

 

[jupiter2007]

We don’t have direct democracy and most people can’t distinguish between right and wrong. That’s why we see thousands are still supporting PPP and PMLN. Awam is divided into clans, tribes and biradaris and most don’t give a damn about the country.

It would be a good study for new government to review Divisional government and see if these Divisional Governments can be given provincial status. It might not work for the divisions in Balochistan due to lack of population...unless government decide to relocate people to these divisions from Punjab, Sindh and GB.

 

[fitpOsitive]

smller provinces will be life oxigion for our country make provinces before people start asking for new countries . people living in rahim yar khan dg khan muzzafar gardh districts like cattles and no one give flying F in lahore.

Same with Karachi.

 

[jupiter2007]

Same with Karachi.

If Karachi division became a province, Sindh governments capital will have to be relocate to Hyderabad or Nawabshah, but unfortunately both of these cities don’t have the proper infrastructure. IMHO, Karachi needs to be cleaned up before considering it to become a future province or part of a province.
Karachi Lesbela might be a good option.

 

[Islamabad Rulz]

We are not talking about drawing national borders here. A saraiki living in Punjab will be able to move freely to Multan, a Punjabi living in Vihari(once that becomes a part of South Punjab) could still attend marriage of his relatives in Sheikhupura. This point is only valid sir if you think that balkanization of Pakistan is possible, and when all the federating units will want to go their own way such boundaries will matter.

You are making it very simplistic.. any wrong demarcation will cause political parties leveraging the situation. SO why create problems when they can easily be managed... so yes make even three province... but there should always be a method to madness.. Ignoring visible variables is a stupidity.

If Karachi division became a province, Sindh governments capital will have to be relocate to Hyderabad or Nawabshah, but unfortunately both of these cities don’t have the proper infrastructure. IMHO, Karachi needs to be cleaned up before considering it to become a future province or part of a province.
Karachi Lesbela might be a good option.

Yeah try making a province out of karachi and than see the political turmoil.. Sindhies would never take it lightly.. Why is everyone ignoring the ground realities???

 

[jupiter2007]

You are making it very simplistic.. any wrong demarcation will cause political parties leveraging the situation. SO why create problems when they can easily be managed... so yes make even three province... but there should always be a method to madness.. Ignoring visible variables is a stupidity.


Yeah try making a province out of karachi and than see the political turmoil.. Sindhies would never take it lightly.. Why is everyone ignoring the ground realities???

People have to see what is best for Pakistan not for any ethnic group. My suggestions was to relocate the IDPs to interor Sindh.

Why Sindhi are not upset when Zardari mafia stole billions in the name of new city Call Zulfiqarabad?

 

[Islamabad Rulz]

People have to see what is best for Pakistan not for any ethnic group. My suggestions was to relocate the IDPs to interor Sindh.

Why Sindhi are not upset when Zardari mafia stole billions in the name of new city Call Zulfiqarabad?

thats your opinion... everything has to be based o proper analysis. what you are saying is that people have to see whats best for pakistan, as you think...

 

[jupiter2007]

thats your opinion... everything has to be based o proper analysis. what you are saying is that people have to see whats best for pakistan, as you think...

Even before making new provinces, establish baldiyati nizam in the whole country then take the consensus from people on how to best create more provinces.

Simple solution would be to make
East and west KPK
North and South Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.
GB should be given full Provincial status but after 18th amendment making GB a province can be problematic.

 

[My-Analogous]

If Karachi division became a province, Sindh governments capital will have to be relocate to Hyderabad or Nawabshah, but unfortunately both of these cities don’t have the proper infrastructure. IMHO, Karachi needs to be cleaned up before considering it to become a future province or part of a province.
Karachi Lesbela might be a good option.

Exactly, These lagoons didn't develop Sindh and Karachi was developed before it become Sindh capital. After making new province these jiyala's will see from their eyes that where they are standing with Bhutto. GA Bhutto

 

[dil_dil]

North Baluchistan's merger with KPK is a viable option though, if Hazara gets its own province KPK can be compensated with North Baluchistan.

Compensate? this isn't 1947 and province boundary lines are not drawn basis on compensating each other. Majority of pashtun settlers in modern Hazara division have migrated in last 70 years. In 1931 census pashto speakers made just 4% of population in hazara.

Plus with nationalist afghan wannabe ANP no longer ruling, I doubt there is much need for hazara province.

 

[jupiter2007]

Compensate? this isn't 1947 and province boundary lines are not drawn basis on compensating each other. Majority of pashtun settlers in modern Hazara division have migrated in last 70 years. In 1931 census pashto speakers made just 4% of population in hazara.

Plus with nationalist afghan wannabe ANP no longer ruling, I doubt there is much need for hazara province.

Hindko speaker population is less compare to Pashto speaking and more Pashtun will eventually move into hindko speaking areas in next 25 years.
One option is to have East and West KPK, other option is to create hazara potohar province since most hindko speaking associate themselves with Punjab than KPK.

 

[dil_dil]

Hindko speaker population is less compare to Pashto speaking and more Pashtun will eventually move into hindko speaking areas in next 25 years.
One option is to have East and West KPK, other option is to create hazara potohar province since most hindko speaking associate themselves with Punjab than KPK.

No need to merge with any province on basis of language. And province of 3-4 districts is a joke anyway unless 10-15 provinces are made.

 

[jupiter2007]

No need to merge with any province on basis of language. And province of 3-4 districts is a joke anyway unless 10-15 provinces are made.

It would be ideal to convert 35 Divisions into 10 to 15 province.

1) North Punjab province
2) South Punjab province
3) North Sindh province
4) South Sindh province
5) Karachi-lesbela province
6) Makran province
7) North Balochistan
8) South Balochistan
9) East KPK province
10) West KPK province
11) GB province