The essay treats new provinces as a fix for administrative distance, citing Punjab’s 66.3% literacy rate alongside 9.7 million out-of-school children and delayed services in remote districts.

It floats 12–16 units based on existing divisions but notes the NFC’s population-weighted formula, high setup costs and the need for empowered local governments under Article 140A.

Boundary changes require two-thirds majorities in Parliament and the affected assembly under Article 239, so consultation and viable planning are essential to bring accountable government closer to citizens.

The issue of new provinces in Pakistan is frequently seen as an identity dispute, a power play or a territorial issue. But the nearer the question is that of the common citizen. How much distance should be covered to reach the government which can solve a problem? Administrative geography is more than just a line on paper if it is decided on a distant district hundreds of kilometres away on a regular basis. It determines who gets heard, who gets the service on time and who can be held accountable if it doesn’t.

Consider southern Punjab. A family looking for a school that works, a road that’s mended, a drinking water that is reliable does not assess government based on its development plans. It has a spotlight on results of the government. Lahore can approve budgets and announce programmes, but the decisions have yet to go through various layers of departments to reach districts away from the capital. There are other reasons for some delays, other than distance, due to weak institutions. However, these weaknesses can be more difficult to undermine when it........

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