📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Department of State
International
Pakistan may redraw provincial map, splitting four provinces into up to 15
✍️ Livemint
🗓 10 Oct 2026, 03:16 AM
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Analysts say Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir is pushing a proposal to increase the number of provinces from four to as many as fifteen, a move that could reshape the country’s administrative landscape.
Pakistan’s senior military leadership is reportedly considering a major overhaul of the country’s internal boundaries. Army chief General Asim Munir has been linked to a plan that would break the existing four provinces into between twelve and fifteen new units, according to sources familiar with the discussion. The proposal is being examined within the defence establishment and has not yet been presented to the civilian government.
Proponents of the restructuring argue that smaller provinces could improve governance by bringing administration closer to local populations and addressing long‑standing ethnic and regional grievances. They also suggest that a re‑drawn map might enhance security coordination in areas where insurgency and cross‑border challenges persist.
If implemented, the change would require constitutional amendments, a reallocation of resources, and a reshaping of political representation at both the federal and provincial levels. Critics warn that the move could spark political resistance, complicate inter‑provincial relations, and trigger disputes over resource sharing.
At present, no official timetable has been announced, and the proposal remains under internal review. Observers note that any decision will hinge on the balance of power between the military and civilian institutions in Islamabad.
Proponents of the restructuring argue that smaller provinces could improve governance by bringing administration closer to local populations and addressing long‑standing ethnic and regional grievances. They also suggest that a re‑drawn map might enhance security coordination in areas where insurgency and cross‑border challenges persist.
If implemented, the change would require constitutional amendments, a reallocation of resources, and a reshaping of political representation at both the federal and provincial levels. Critics warn that the move could spark political resistance, complicate inter‑provincial relations, and trigger disputes over resource sharing.
At present, no official timetable has been announced, and the proposal remains under internal review. Observers note that any decision will hinge on the balance of power between the military and civilian institutions in Islamabad.