ABBOTTABAD — Dunya Media Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood emphasized the need to create smaller provinces in Pakistan, stating that the federal government cannot effectively serve a population of nearly 250 million from Islamabad. He spoke at a seminar titled “Pakistan 2030: Challenges, Opportunities, and New Pathways” organized by the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) at Abbottabad International Medical College.
Mian Amer Mahmood highlighted that major countries worldwide have divided their federations into multiple administrative units for efficient governance. He criticized Pakistan’s current structure of only four provinces, noting the imbalance in administrative control, especially given Punjab’s population constitutes 52% of the country. He also referred to the 2001 Local Government Ordinance as a model of effective governance that was abolished by political governments, stressing that true service to the people lies in empowering local governments.
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He compared Pakistan with other populous countries, saying China has 31 provinces, the U.S. has 50 states, Indonesia 34, Nigeria 27, Brazil 36, and Mexico 31, whereas Pakistan manages nearly 250 million people through only four provinces. He highlighted issues like uneven regional development, overpopulation in major cities, and underdevelopment outside capital cities as consequences of the current administrative system.
Mian Amer Mahmood concluded by supporting the creation of smaller provinces and encouraging equal development across Pakistan. He said, “Smaller provinces will ensure equal development and better governance for all regions.”
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Earlier, APSUP Chairman Chaudhry Abdul Rehman praised Mian Amer Mahmood for his contributions to education and governance. He emphasized that societal transformation begins with individual change and called for devolution of powers to the grassroots level to improve governance across the country.