Demand for 10 provinces and new Capital

New Provinces- Need of the hour

Tarique Khan Javed,
President, Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum

                                                                        Dated 2^nd Feb 2012


Like other reforms put on hold due to Dictatorships. The issue of renaming or creating new provinces has been on hold. With democracy slowly getting established, amid threats, demand for new provinces is gaining momentum by the day and can not be stopped except by derailing Democracy.

NEED IS WELL ESTABLISHED:

Healthy heated debate is going on this issue which is the beauty of Democracy. Need for more provinces are undisputable. MQM has taken lead by tabling a Resolution for creation of Sariaki and Hazara province.

They have also suggested creation of Qabilistan province comprising FATA.

If Afghanistan and Iran can have more than 30 provinces why not Pakistan 10 provinces on following lines:

·        Besides the well advanced debate on break up of KP and Punjab into two provinces. Which is highly desirable, economically viable and welcome move.

·        The breakup of Baluchistan into 4 provinces and

·        Sindh into 2 provinces make lot of Administrative, Economic, Political and Cultural, Ethnic sense.

SARIAKISTAN and HAZARA:

On my resent visit to Dera Ismail Khan and TANK, I witnessed strong support for inclusion of these territories in proposed Sariakistan. Indeed this Area is predominantly inhabited by Sariaki speaking people.

This has created lot of anxiety among the people of KP because this will mean KP will loose a large track of land below PEZO.

My extended visit to HAZARA last year also indicated very solid support for HAZARA province among masses. The bulk of inhabitants of HAZARA look more like Punjabis than Pakhtuns in appearance and in terms of culture. River SINDH separates them from rest of KP.

If both the provinces do come up KP will loose large track of territories and thus KP is being asked to give big sacrifice to meet people aspirations. PUNJAB of course will not remain the same after creation of Sariakistan.

NORTH BALUCHISTAN and FATA part of KP:

KP’s lose can be compensated by inclusion of all territories of Baluchistan above QUEETA, DUKI and RAGNI into KP.

Inclusion of these Areas into Baluchistan is an anomaly inviting correction even since Baluchistan Agency was created. It represented the administrative Unit created by Col. Sandeman. He created a very large Province and administered it in a very smart and inexpensive manner.

Tested Sandemanian security system:

·        He allowed the Rural areas to remain under the Tribal system while applied British Rule in Urban Areas. He hired local tribes’ man in Militias and made them responsible for protecting roads and installations within their territories. He fixed annual grant for each tribe in return of their absolute loyalty. He maintained cantonments in all Major Urban areas from which Military could come out in large number to punish any trouble makers.

Today North Baluchistan or PUKHTUN Baluchistan is the most peaceful and prosperous AREA of Pakistan. There is no anti Pakistani sentiment there.

Recommend that the system now applicable in Baluchistan be applied in the Districts created out of FATA agencies. Soon no one will support the old system and prosperity and security will take hold. This will end Militancy.

The Districts created out of FATA agencies and Northern Baluchistan may be called only PAKHTUNKHAWA distinct from the remaining Khyber Pakhtunkhawa or KP.

MAKRAN and KAACHI Provinces:

The other two provinces which need to be considered for Baluchistan are MAKRAN and KAACHI.

·        MAKRAN has a distinct ethnicity, history, culture, Economy and future needs. If Lasbella to Javeni, Panjgore, Turbat be formed into a new Province it would make lot of Administrative, Economic, Political sense.

·        Similarly the plains of Baluchistan extending from Jahl Magsi to Sibi, Dara Allayar, Dera Bukti, and Utta Mohammad are a separate geographical unit of Baluchistan. Large numbers of its inhabitants speak Sariaki and Agriculture is the main component of Economy. The Area is more linked naturally with Sindh than highlands of Baluchistan. A separate KAACHI  Province makes lot of Administrative, Economic and political sense.

The creation of above three provinces is the best way to control current insurgencies.

WESTERN and EASTERN SINDH:

For Sindh a new Province comprising predominantly Baloch population may be considered.

From Jamshoro to Kashmoor, Sukkur, and Ubaru this province with Larkana as capital will help governance.

·        Currently large tracks of these Areas in ungovernable. The Kaacha area of the North has made travel from Sukkur to Jamsooro so dangerous that traffic is advised to take the Super highway. Honour killing and daily firing are common in the Area.

·        With Karachi as Capital, this Area is not being effectively managed. The Area and Population of the AREA is too large to be governable. Besides as the Area is adjoining neighboring Baluchistan, it has larger mix of Baloch population with their own way of life quite distinct from rest of Sindh, although most speak Sindhi as well.

·        Tribal war fare has kept people in state of uncertainty and people are reluctant to invest contributing to the poverty in the Area. A closer watch may improve the situation. This new province may be called: "WESTERN SINDH".


The remaining area of Sindh from Khairpur to Karachi and Hyderabad to Nager Parker would still be substantial in physical size and Economic activity.

·        The capital of this new province may be at central point like Tando Adam. Shifting of capital will give relief to Karachi which has become too big.

·        The new capital will stimulate economic growth in and around TANDO ADAM. This new province may be called "EASTERN SINDH".

CAPITAL near Dera Ghazi Khan:

The current capital in Islamabad was made on the whim and fancy of Ayub Khan and has no political, economic and security justification.

·        Like all provincial capital should be located at a central point of the proposed 10 provinces. The national capital should also be located at a central point.

·        Dera Ghazi Khan located in Lower Punjab neighboring Baluchistan and near Sindh may be considered. It has enough water, high mountains on one side and Indus river on the other side. It has plenty of open space and variety of climate with hill station of FORT MUNRO located at a height of 7,300 feet.

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