ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the question of creating new provinces in Pakistan will be taken up for parliamentary debate in October.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the minister said the upcoming sessions of the National Assembly and Senate would provide the proper platform for lawmakers to discuss the issue.
He explained that neither House of Parliament is scheduled to meet in September, making the October sessions the appropriate opportunity to begin the debate.
“The real place for the debate on new provinces is Parliament House,” Tariq Fazal said, emphasising that the matter should be discussed through the country’s parliamentary process.
The minister also clarified speculation regarding the constitutional status of Islamabad. He said there was no proposal to turn the federal capital into a separate province. Instead, work was underway on introducing a new governance model for Islamabad.
“There has been no talk of making Islamabad a separate province,” he said.
The announcement brings the long-running debate over the creation of new provinces back to Parliament, with the issue expected to receive formal attention when both Houses resume their sessions next month.
