The creation of new provinces is a constitutional and legitimate right as enshrined in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan. Srikistan has become a buzz word and it is being exploited by the native politicians. Though poverty persists and there are rare good health and educational facilities in southern Punjab yet the creation of new province cannot solve this problem alone. It is a matter of poor governance, and only good governance can ameliorate the grudges of those living in southern Punjab. Therefore, i have follwoing reservations over the creation of new provinces.
- Who will guarantee that the poor will get their share after the creation of new provinces?
- Who will ensure that there will be better educational and health facilities, and improved infrastructure?
- Who will hold the onus to shrug off the rampant feudal system in the new province? These feudals?
- Why should the simpletons believe that the political leaders will safeguard their interests?
- Presently, most MNAs from southern Punjab are in the PPP federal cabinet. Then why do they not take substantial measures to eradicate the said grievances?
- Why do PPP MNAs and ministers from southern Punjab not push their own federal govt. to allocate more funds to health, education, infrastructure?
- People are being befooled at the pretext of new province. If political leaders were capable, they would have delivered upto the expectations of their mandate. But now they are playing a dirty game by raising this issue as a poltical move. They are only eying on becoming the CM and MPAs of the new province.
- We need good governance rather than new provinces. Even after the creation of new provinces, the said grievances will persist because political leaders from southern Punjab have been too competant and capable to deliver. They are merely raising hue and cry for their personal interests not for the sake of their people.
- There are many countries in the world with over four dozen of federal units but they suffer extremely from bad governance, and there are many other instances in the world where a state comprises of merely half a dozen of federal units and have good governance there.
Division of a state into smaller cannot ensure prosperity, progress and stability except good governance. Hence, in our country we need to strengthen our democratic instituttions and empower judiciary for a better and prosperous Pakistan. Addressing the problems and extending relief at the grass root level will only mitigate the grievances of poor Pakistanis.