Naqvi urges 'all political parties' to settle issue of more provinces, says current 'system' has collapsed

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday urged all political parties to “settle” various national-level issues, including the question of creating new provinces. Addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 being held in Islamabad, Naqvi said there was “only one solution” to improving the country’s overall condition: “You will have to take [the matter of] administrative units, provinces or whatever you may call it, to the public.” The interior minister argued: “All political parties should sit together in a single room, whether for a day, a month or a year. They will have to settle every issue of their country, including new units and provinces.” “Unless they do so, unless they sit together and change this, this country will remain in the same condition, regardless of how many seminars and functions you hold.”

Various political parties have demanded the creation of more provinces or administrative units for better governance. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — an ally of the PML-N-led ruling coalition — has been demanding that Karachi be designated a province separate from Sindh. However, the PPP, which rules Sindh and is also an ally of the PML-N government at the Centre along with MQM-P, has strongly opposed the suggested move. On the other hand, the PPP and the PTI have long advocated for a South Punjab province.

At the outset of his speech, Naqvi said, “Whether you agree or not, the system we have been living under has collapsed.” He contended that there would be no change in the country’s conditions if the same “system” remains. The minister emphasised that ordinary citizens wanted to be able to afford necessities and have interactions with the government, which were not being provided. He further said: “The condition of this federal government is such that we make our budgets in the negative, and we discuss how much debt we have to incur this year.” “[…] We will take more debts, but we will not correct things,” he pointed out. Asserting that he was the “biggest supporter” of democracy, Naqvi highlighted that there were multiple systems even within democracy. “But we say, no matter what, we have to keep running and dragging this,” he added. The minister said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, which were even hailed globally, were “simply firefighting”. “Until you correct the basics of this country while adhering to the spirit of democracy, this will remain the same,” he said. Noting that Islamabad was a “very busy city”, Naqvi said, “Unless units are made and they take ownership, and a new leadership comes, this will not happen.” He went on to remark that giving “stipends and tablets to youngsters” would not make them happy, as the youth wanted merit-based job opportunities and a “corrected system”. “We are not able to give the youth that,” the interior minister said. “If these ‘cockroaches’ get united, they can turn everything upside down,” he quipped, referring to a term often used for Gen-Z in the wake of recent student protests in India.

Noting that all business chambers and associations were present at the summit, the minister said he considered them to be “those who run the political system” and fund it. “One gives funding of Rs500 million before elections, or the other gives Rs100m or Rs50m.” He also said that those attending the summit were “responsible for the current state of Pakistan and where it is today”, noting that certain systems had not worked for the past 70 years.