Karachi: The PPP on Friday raised the question of the government's stance on the issue of new provinces, which has recently become a topic of debate among the country's national political parties.
During proceedings last month in the National Assembly, PPP lawmaker Agha Rafiullah called on Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to come to the NA and give a policy statement on the issue of new provinces.
There has been considerable speculation in the media regarding the issue, with some outlets reporting that as many as eight to 30 new administrative units are being discussed.
Speaking on Friday, PPP-P secretary genrealy Nayyer Hussain Bokhari raised the issue saying "We want to know what the stance of the prime minister on new provinces is, as no statement is coming from him, whereas a number of federal cabinet members are apparently supporting the plan.”
He noted that if a proposal of this kind was on the table the PM should bring it to the federal cabinet and pointed out that when the eighteenth amendment was passed during th etenure of the then PPP led government, consultations between the various stakeholders lasted more than a year and a broad political consensus was built on the issue.
He also noted that any such amendment would require significant majorities in both houses of parliament and consultation with the federating units.
Speaking later, adviser to the PM on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, on Friday restated that no preparations were currently under way for the creation of new provinces.
