LAHORE BUREAU REPORT,MONITORING DESK
Speaking at a seminar organized by the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP), Chairman Punjab Group Mian Amer Mehmood emphasized the urgent need for a stronger local governance structure and the creation of new provinces to better serve the people of Pakistan.
In his address, Mian Amer Mehmood expressed concerns about the lack of full implementation of the Constitution and highlighted that countries operate through government policies. “Pakistan is a federation comprising four units, but the provinces made the country — not the other way around,” he stated, drawing comparisons with other federations like the United States.
Citing historical examples, he noted that India, at the time of independence, had fewer provinces but over 600 princely states, which later became part of a more decentralized structure. “Where there is a strong local government system, there’s no need to rely on the federation for basic services,” he added.
Mehmood called for each administrative division in Pakistan to be made into a separate province, arguing that smaller administrative units would ensure better governance, accountability, and service delivery. He proposed that regions like Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Multan be made separate provinces. “Karachi should also be declared a separate province — had it been governed properly, it could have reached the same level of development as Dubai,” he stated.
He criticized the inefficiency in public service delivery, especially in education and sanitation. “Rain continues to paralyze Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to inadequate drainage systems,” he said, while also mentioning that Punjab, with a population of 130 million, is larger than many countries.
Highlighting issues in education, Mehmood said Pakistan ranks second in the world in terms of the number of out-of-school children, with 36% of children not attending school. “We have schools, colleges, and hospitals, but they are not functioning effectively,” he remarked. He added that Punjab alone cannot manage 50,000 schools from Lahore, and praised the private sector for playing a key role, noting that the government is spending Rs. 4,400 per child but achieving poor outcomes.
“Small provinces would also improve the judicial system,” he argued, pointing out that conviction rates in theft and robbery cases are almost zero. “Our lawmakers are more focused on building roads than building laws.”
He emphasized that a smaller, more localized government structure would reduce costs and increase efficiency, making public service more transparent and effective. “We are not asking for paradise, just a system that solves people’s problems,” Mehmood concluded.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Chaudhry Abdul Rehman in the education movement and thanked the participants for supporting educational reforms.
