It is one of Pakistan's most enduring questions. Should the state bring government closer to the people by carving out new provinces, or by finally empowering local institutions that already exist in the Constitution but rarely in practice?

Both approaches claim to offer representation, equity and better service delivery. Yet both also carry risks if driven by politics rather than planning. The challenge is not simply whether to add new lines on the map or strengthen councils at the grassroots, but how either option can overcome decades of centralisation, patronage and weak governance.

The proposal for a "West Punjab" province, carved out of Faisalabad and Sahiwal divisions, has revived the old debate on restructuring Pakistan's federation. For some, it promises fairer representation and a check on Punjab's dominance. For others, it looks like political opportunism dressed up as reform.

This is not the first time Pakistan has tried to redraw its map. The One Unit scheme in the 1950s aimed to create parity between East and West Pakistan but ended up deepening resentment. The merger of FATA with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 was designed to integrate, but years later the region is still struggling with transition. The lesson is simple. Changing boundaries without consensus and preparation risks creating more problems than it solves.

The Constitution deliberately makes altering provincial boundaries........

© The Express Tribune