By Iftikhar Mashwani
Pakistan’s administrative structure has come under renewed discussion as senior officials have called for reforms aimed at improving governance, fueling speculation about possible constitutional and administrative changes.
On Thursday, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the existing administrative system as ineffective and suggested that it requires a comprehensive “reset.” A day later, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also emphasized the need to seriously consider the creation of new administrative units to improve governance and public service delivery.
The debate has drawn attention to the constitutional framework governing such reforms. Legal experts point to Articles 140-A, 48(6), and 239 of the Constitution, which outline the procedures for strengthening local governments, holding referendums in specified circumstances, and creating new provinces through constitutional amendments.
The discussion has prompted questions over whether Pakistan is approaching a major constitutional and administrative transformation and whether public opinion, if expressed through constitutional mechanisms, could influence future political decisions.
Political analysts, however, argue that the country’s challenges extend beyond the structure of governance. They contend that the effectiveness of any administrative system ultimately depends on those who implement it.
According to this view, issues such as corruption, nepotism, weak accountability, and poor governance remain the country’s fundamental problems, and merely introducing a new system or creating additional administrative units may not produce the desired results without institutional reforms.
