The only simple criterion that could be used in considering any restructuring proposal would be whether it would make government more responsive to the people and give more control to the people over the decision-making process and resources available to them. If redrawing the provincial boundaries is a solution, let’s start with Islamabad. Islamabad can be granted provincial status with an elected democratic government run by a Chief Minister. This will definitely require greater constitutional, administrative, financial and political discussion, but might be an opportunity for developing a new form of democratic, decentralised governance. The possible discussion could be about establishing an elected governance structure for Islamabad without losing its federal capital status. However, a case could also be put forward for a larger proposal to include Islamabad and its economically and geographically linked neighbouring areas to become a separate federating unit. Any such proposal must be subject to constitutional review, institutional consultation, public discussion and careful consideration of administrative and financial feasibility. The Provincial Finance Commission should be strengthened and constitutionally entrenched to guarantee the regular and equitable transfer of funds from provincial governments to district and local governments, thereby ensuring meaningful fiscal decentralisation.

The goal is to have an elected institution that truly represents the citizens and serves through meaningful political, administrative and fiscal decentralisation. Allocation of resources should be based on the National Finance Commission and Provincial Finance Commission in such a way that resources are channelled to the third tier of government that provides the services. Meanwhile, robust financial oversight and transparency, performance tracking and independent accountability tools must also be put in place to guard against the misuse of public resources. Policing and the offices of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner should also operate within a clearly defined framework of democratic accountability, while preserving professional autonomy, administrative continuity and the rule of law. The objective should be to ensure that administrative institutions serve citizens rather than remain detached from the communities they govern.

If such a model were to be considered, its effectiveness should be assessed against clear and measurable indicators, including the quality of service delivery, municipal management, education and healthcare provision, infrastructure development, public safety, revenue generation, financial transparency and citizen satisfaction. Evidence generated through such an experience could provide valuable lessons for informing and shaping broader administrative and governance reforms across other parts of the country as well.

However, this approach should not be confined to Islamabad. The future creation of any new administrative or federating units elsewhere in Pakistan should be accompanied by strong, empowered and democratically accountable local governments. Creating smaller provinces without simultaneously strengthening districts, municipalities and community-level institutions would risk merely shifting the locus of centralised power rather than achieving meaningful decentralisation. Genuine administrative reform should therefore place effective local governance, fiscal empowerment, institutional accountability and citizen participation at the centre of any restructuring process.

Published in The Nation