Redrawing opportunity
The article argues that Pakistan's debate over creating new provinces misses the core issue of economic decentralization. It suggests that instead of focusing on administrative expansion, the country should prioritize empowering local governments and developing regional economic hubs to foster genuine opportunity.
Why it matters
It challenges the prevailing political narrative in Pakistan that administrative restructuring alone can solve regional inequality, highlighting the fiscal risks of creating new provinces without a productive tax base.
--> Home Opinion Redrawing opportunity Pakistan did decentralise after the 18th Amendment, but much of that decentralisation stopped at the provincial tier
facebook --> twitter --> whatsup --> linkded --> email MORE (3) Messenger Whatsapp --> The writer is an Economist based in Islamabad. For insights and updates, follow on Twitter: @SalmanAneel or reach out via email at aneelsalman@gmail.com Pakistan has 252.09 million people and only four provinces. Punjab alone is home to about 133 million people. The arithmetic looks compelling: surely, a country this large needs more provinces. Yet economics does not always follow the map. A new boundary can shorten the distance to government; it cannot, by itself, shorten the distance to opportunity.
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