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PAKISTAN’S governance crisis is fundamentally institutional rather than geographical.
While the creation of new provinces may address certain concerns relating to regional identity, representation, and administrative reach, it cannot by itself remedy systemic deficiencies in governance. Without meaningful institutional reform, decentralisation, and fiscal planning, new provinces risk reproducing existing problems at a greater administrative and financial cost.
Modern federal democracies increasingly function through a three-tier system of governance, in which constitutional authority is distributed among the federal government, provincial governments and elected local governments. The rationale is both democratic and practical; decisions should be taken at the lowest level capable of addressing them effectively.
National defence and foreign affairs belong to the federation, provincial policy belongs to the provinces while matters such as municipal services, sanitation, local infrastructure and community development are most effectively managed by local governments. This principle of democratic decentralisation ensures that government remains closer, more responsive and more accountable to the people.
