"A Reasoned Response to the Debate on New Provinces Some intellectuals attempt to make the issue of new provinces controversial by arguing that it would lead to more assemblies, new Chief Ministers Secretariats, a larger bureaucracy, and the erosion of regional identities. The facts are quite the opposite.Rather than simply criticizing the discovery of new provinces, it is more important to understand the core purpose behind the idea: bringing better governance closer to the people.The most important requirement for better governance is ensuring that funds received through the NFC Award reach people at the grassroots level without discrimination.Effective governance requires improving departments responsible for price control, property matters, sanitation, public health, public health engineering, C&W, social services, construction and development, areas where there are widespread complaints of corruption.Under the existing model, these offices and their administrators already exist in every district. The problem is that funds are not being distributed to them equitably. Is the funding for Lahore and Rajanpur the same? Is Karachis funding the same as Dadus? Is Peshawars funding the same as Tanks? And isnt underdevelopment contributing to the growth of terrorism? Is Quettas funding the same as Barkhans or Lasbelas?Absolutely not. If funds were distributed fairly to every region under an NFC-based model, the entire country could become more prosperous and developed. This does not require a new bureaucracy. It requires giving the existing government machinery financial and administrative powers on an equal basis. A province is not a new building or a concrete structure; it is a constitutional status. Every divisional headquarters already has a substantial Commissioners House and Commissioners Office. When a new province is created, the existing Commissioners Office can simply be designated as the Provincial Secretariat. Bureaucrats would be transferred, not newly recruited. Grade 19, 20 and 21 secretaries currently sitting in the Civil Secretariat in Lahore and filling files could be posted to these divisional headquarters. The bureaucracy would remain the samethe only change would be that its air-conditioned office would move from Peshawar to D.I. Khan. Every district and tehsil already has administrative offices. Converting an existing building for use by a provincial assembly would require little more than replacing the signboard outside. To oversee and run the government departments and staff of a new province, all that is ultimately required is a chief executive elected by the people. Whether that person is called a Mayor, Nazim or Chief Minister is a matter of terminology. New provinces pose no threat to anyones identity. If anything, misgovernance and corruption are what would face a threat. Punjab will remain Punjab and Sindh will remain Sindh, but officials sitting in Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta or Lahore would no longer be able to neglect or exploit smaller, distant districts. Those who object to this approach are quick to protest when they receive even a few rupees less through the NFC, yet when it comes to discussing the PFC, they suddenly reject the principle of equitable distribution.In other words: they want the federation to distribute resources without discrimination, while they themselves want the freedom to distribute those resources according to their own preferences.That is not support for a linguistic unit, it is hypocrisy.It is not concern for the economy; it is opposition to development and prosperity. Pakistan must move forward.That is what matters most."