By Sikander Hayat
Devolution of power is the single most important issue facing Pakistan at the moment after terrorism and some might say that later is the product of the former not being implemented.
Before devolution happens, there is a need for creation of further provincial units as the present units are too big to have any impact on governance at the local level.
At least 15 Provincial units should be created in addition to the State of Azad Kasmir; as the country should rather have 15 autonomous provinces than four which do not have the powers to govern their affairs.
Strategic assets like Karachi, Gwadar and Islamabad should be under federal jurisdiction. Northern Areas should be divided into two provinces. One centred on former princely states of Baltistan (Swat, Kaghan etc.) and other around Skardu & Gilgit.
Azad Kashmir should be left as it is because of it having a lot of autonomy already with its own Prime Minister, President and directly elected assembly, with powers to legislate.
Balochistan must be divided into its three main constituent parts which are; Pashtoon Balochistan, Baloch Balochistan and Makran.
Sindh apart from Karachi, which is a federal asset, should be divided into further three provinces.
NWFP should be divided into three provinves with Pashto Speaking areas, Hindko Speaking areas and Hazara speaking areas. The Pashto speaking prvince should be called the Pakhtoonkhwa.
Punjab should be divided into three provinces of Pothohar, Punjab and South Punjab.
Tribal agencies should be politicised and given the right to contest elections on party political basis. It should be given the stature of a province with seats in the senate in addition to its present presence in the national assembly. The name of the province can be decided later.
NWFP – Three new provinces
Balochistan - Three New Provinces
Sindh – Three New Provinces
Punjab – Three New Provinces
Northern Area – Two New Provinces
Tribal Areas – One New Province
State of Azad Kashmir – Present Status Maintained
Hearty Eid Greetings to the People’s Prime Minister of Pakistan and special appreciation for the recent development activities in Multan greater area. Would prime minister be kind enough to work on a mega project for this neglected area of Southern Punjab to create enough jobs which may stop poor people of this area to be exploited in big cities of the country. Last but not least, if the Prime minister could arrange to move/ transfer the Head Quarters of Pakistan Railways in Multan area-the real center of the country to boost under developed area and provide an opportunity to earn fortune by selling railways expansive land in Lahore, mostly used for railway officers’ residences. I hope PM will do his best as no one stays for ever on this authoritative important positions. Sincerely , Khwaja Aftab Ali, Advocate/ I.P. Attorney
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FIVE REGIONAL CITIES OF PAKISTAN should be
upgraded with in the provinces in the country. Regional cities of Dera Ismail Khan in NWFP, Gawadar/ Qalat in Balouchistan, Sukkar/ Larkana in Upper Sind, Jehlam/ Rawalpindi and Multan in Punjab province. These regional cities have been ignored by the federal and provincial governments although these cities have their own history, culture and languages.Dera Ismail Khan in south of Pakhtun khwa/MWFP is under seige, Multan/DG Khan in south of Punjab is next target of religious extremists,Sukkar/ Larkana is being rule by criminals, Gawadar/ Qalat is trouble some. The people of these regions have to travel to provincial capitals for every small issue and requirement of the daily life which should be provided in nearby cities. A good number of population travel to big cities for their survival to earn livelihood as the local feudal own majority land and keep the common man as their slaves. Creation of regional government and upgrading of the regional cities will save a lot of money and time of the poor people of these regions. Circuit benches of the High Courts are already working in these areas and only requirement is the additional staff of different departments involved in additional work at the provincial capitals. The concern authorities should immediately consider to upgrade the regional cities. And immediate attention should be given upgrade/build the airports,TV station, civic center, libraries,hospitals, educational institutes and investment opportunities for Pakistanis living abroad and foreign firms to create jobs in the area as majority population in rural Pakistan do not have enough resources to survive. It’s remind me the condition of pre Islamic revolution of Iran in Shah time when the rural Iran was ignored and the capital Tehran was developed in a way to call it Paris of Middle East with modern life style. Couple of other big cities like Isfahan and Caspian sea was taken care of because of foreign tourists but rural area was ruled by cruel police and intelligence. Then what happen rural population supported the Islamic revolution and moved to Tehran and other big cities later on. The new government after revolution developed, built and upgraded the rural areas of Iran accordingly. A fund to upgrade/build these regional cities in Pakistan should be intoduced by public and private sector and Pakistani government, our foreign friends and Pakistanis living abroad may be asked to participate in this development mission in the country..KHWAJA AFTAB ALI,( former secretary, Iranian embassy, Saudi Arabia,1979-88) Advocate High Court & I.P. Attorney-first & the only Pakistani lawyer who earned Intellectual Property laws scholarship in USA,presently residing in Florida, USA. all_languages@hotmail.com