Proposal to Divide Pakistan into 12 Provinces Under Consideration; Nationwide Referendum May Be Held Before 28th Constitutional Amendment.

ISLAMABAD: A major proposal to restructure Pakistan’s administrative system has emerged, with discussions reportedly underway to divide the country’s four existing provinces into a total of 12 provinces. According to a report by senior journalist Ansar Abbasi published in The News, the proposed plan envisages dividing Punjab into four provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into three, Balochistan into three and Sindh into two. The initiative is aimed at improving governance, strengthening administrative efficiency, bringing government services closer to citizens and ensuring a more balanced distribution of development resources across the country. The proposal also includes the possibility of holding a nationwide referendum before introducing a potential 28th Constitutional Amendment to seek public opinion on the creation of additional provinces and build broader public support for the proposed restructuring. According to sources cited in the report, preliminary discussions are underway, with possible progress towards the proposed constitutional amendment during the first half of 2027. Initial legal and administrative preparations may also take place during the first quarter of the year. Supporters of the proposal believe that smaller administrative units could improve access to public services, speed up the resolution of local issues, strengthen government oversight and ensure that development projects reach underdeveloped and remote areas. However, the proposal remains at an early stage of consideration, and no final decision has been announced regarding provincial boundaries, capitals, administrative powers or the distribution of resources. Therefore, the proposed creation of 12 provinces should not be considered an officially approved government decision at this stage.