PESHAWAR – Dunya Media Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood has said that creating smaller provinces in Pakistan would help reduce administrative expenses and improve governance efficiency.
Speaking at an awareness session titled “Pakistan 2030: Challenges, Opportunities, and New Pathways” organized by APPSUP at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, on Wednesday, Mian Amer Mahmood argued that smaller administrative units would lower protocol costs and bring governance closer to the people.
Citing the governance model of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he emphasized the importance of localized responsibility, where one representative managed every ten households and another every hundred. He said this system ensured accountability and effective service delivery — something lacking in Pakistan’s current governance framework.
Read More: Mian Amer calls for smaller provinces, local governance
Mian Amer highlighted Pakistan’s uneven development, noting that in nearly 80 years since independence, only five major cities have seen substantial progress. “Outside Karachi, Sindh lacks development; in Punjab, resource distribution must be equitable,” he said, adding that Quetta and Peshawar remain the only developed cities in their respective provinces.
He compared Pakistan’s four-province model with other nations, pointing out that India has 39 states, China 31 provinces, and the U.S. 50 states, whereas Pakistan — the world’s fifth most populous country — still operates with only four provinces. He proposed turning each division into a separate province to ensure fair resource distribution and stronger local governance.
Read More: Mian Amer calls for smaller provinces Archives
Earlier, APPSUP Chairman Chaudhry Abdul Rehman lauded Mian Amer’s contributions to education, saying he has established over 400 colleges and three universities. Rehman also praised the private sector’s role in supporting Pakistan’s economy and healthcare system, calling for structural reforms to strengthen governance.