Bilawal says Sindh Assembly put ‘full stop’ to new provinces debate

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said the Sindh Assembly had settled the debate over the creation of new provinces, while calling on the federal government to work with the provincial government and Karachi’s local administration to address the city’s problems.

“The Sindh Assembly has put a full stop to this conversation,” Bilawal said in response to a question about repeated calls for creating new provinces.

His remarks came amid ongoing political debate over the creation of additional provinces and the country’s administrative structure.

On September 3, the Sindh Assembly passed by a resolution with a majority vote opposing the creation of new provinces and administrative units in Sindh.

PPP leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro presented the resolution in the provincial assembly, which said the assembly “categorically and unequivocally rejects” any proposal to divide Sindh or create a new province.

Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had backed the creation of new administrative units, saying no individual or political party can block them if they reflect the public will.

Earlier, Bilawal called for a debate in the National Assembly on the country’s governance problems, saying the focus should be on addressing flaws in the system rather than simply proposing new provinces.

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Bilawal said that karachi was Pakistan’s economic hub and required coordinated efforts by the federal government, Sindh government, mayor and other institutions responsible for its administration.

He also said allegations that railway police personnel had mistreated a Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) official must be dealt with under the law.

“Hopefully, the law will take its course, and if someone has committed such an act, they will have to answer for it under the law,” he said.

Bilawal said the Sindh government and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab were making efforts to address the city’s problems, but accused federal government representatives of showing little interest in Karachi’s development.

He alleged that some federal representatives were promoting divisive politics and hatred among residents instead of delivering development projects.

The controversy involves a KMC official who alleged that railway police personnel assaulted him during a dispute over road construction near Natha Khan Bridge. The incident led to competing cases being registered by KMC and Pakistan Railways Police, with both sides accusing the other of wrongdoing.

On a proposal to provide electricity at Rs1 per unit to low-consumption households, Bilawal said those who consumed the least electricity should receive relief.

He said responsibility for managing the electricity system rested with the federal government, but provincial governments should assist if the Centre sought their support.

Bilawal also said a hospital recently made operational through a partnership involving KMC and a private-sector partner would continue to receive support. He cited the Indus Hospital, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) and ChildLife Foundation as examples of institutions supported through public-private partnerships.

“Now that this hospital has opened and is providing free treatment of international standards, I do not think there is a possibility of it closing,” he said.