Government weighs 12 provinces and a referendum before 28th amendment

Proposals to raise Pakistan's provinces from four to 12 and to hold a nationwide referendum before a 28th constitutional amendment are under consideration at senior political and administrative levels, Aaj News reported, citing sources.

The report said the amendment is envisaged within the first six months of 2027, with preliminary steps starting in the first quarter of that year. The stated purpose is to take government to people's doorsteps and to shift powers concentrated in provincial capitals to lower tiers.

Under the administrative framework under discussion, Punjab would be divided into four provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into three, Balochistan into three and Sindh into two, according to the sources and media reports cited by Aaj News.

Officials said the proposal remains at an early stage of deliberation. No decision has been taken on geographic boundaries or on the final constitutional procedure for a reorganisation of that size.

A central element is the plan to hold a nationwide referendum before any amendment, so that voters are asked directly about creating new provinces. The report said the intent is to keep the question out of political bargaining and party interest.

Political leaders have begun to respond. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking to reporters in Sialkot, supported new units on an administrative basis. He said that if 12 administrative units are proposed, they should be created, but that they should be formed for public convenience rather than for linguistic, ethnic or political interests. He said federal funds stop at provincial capitals when they should reach local municipal bodies.

Former federal information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, speaking in Uch Sharif, demanded that Bahawalpur and Hazara be made provinces immediately and announced a nationwide campaign to start from Bahawalpur.

PML-N leader and Minister of State Huzefa Rehman said his party's position is that the matter should be brought to parliament for full debate and consensus.

PTI leader Salim Timur Jhagra accused the PML-N of not wanting to loosen its hold on its centre of power in Punjab.

Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said the PPP will not support any referendum and that new provinces must be created through the procedure laid down in the constitution.