A growing majority of Pakistanis support the creation of new provinces, with a recent national survey showing that 77% of citizens favour dividing existing administrative units to improve governance and public service delivery.
The findings of the Meridian National Barometer 2026 show a significant rise in public support for new provinces in Pakistan. Support has increased by 23 percentage points since November 2022, when 54% of respondents backed the idea. It rose to 66% in 2024 before reaching 77% in the latest survey.
The growing demand reflects public concerns that large provincial administrations are struggling to address the development needs of distant districts and smaller communities. Many citizens believe smaller administrative units could bring government services closer to the people and ensure a fairer distribution of development resources.
South Punjab and Bahawalpur demands
The demand for new provinces has remained a major issue in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, where calls for separate South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces have continued for years.
Supporters of a South Punjab province argue that a separate administrative structure would give the region greater attention in development planning, budget allocation and public services. The proposed region includes districts such as Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh.
The demand for a separate Bahawalpur province has a historical background, with supporters seeking the restoration of its former status. Both proposals have appeared in political manifestos and parliamentary discussions, but disagreements over boundaries and political consensus have delayed progress.
Hazara and Potohar also seek separate provinces
Similar demands have emerged in other parts of the country. The Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed calls for a separate province, while the idea of a Karachi province has periodically resurfaced in Sindh.
Proposals for a separate Potohar province, covering parts of northern Punjab, have also featured in discussions about administrative restructuring.
Strong support across all four provinces
The survey found considerable support for creating additional provinces across Pakistan.
Sindh recorded the highest provincial support at 80%, followed by Punjab at 78%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 75% and Balochistan at 72%. Karachi recorded particularly strong backing, with 92% of respondents supporting the idea.
The findings also showed that 73% of respondents wanted their own districts to become part of a new province, indicating that public interest is closely linked to local administrative needs.
Better governance drives public demand
Dissatisfaction with existing provincial administrations emerged as a major reason behind the growing demand. Around 82% of respondents said provincial governments were not adequately addressing the development needs of their districts.
Improved access to public services was another major expectation. Some 83% believed new provinces would reduce travel time to government offices, while 79% expected greater funding for district development.
Meanwhile, 77% anticipated better police responsiveness under smaller administrative structures.
Support was also widespread across different age groups. It stood at 83% among people aged 18 to 29, 82% among those aged 30 to 44 and 72% among respondents aged 45 to 64.
The survey also recorded support among 76% of urban residents and 68% of rural residents.
Meridian Analytics conducted the survey between October 12 and November 4, 2026, covering 5,000 adults aged 18 to 64 across the four provinces. The sample included 1,200 respondents from Sindh, 2,000 from Punjab, 1,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 800 from Balochistan.
Under Article 239(4) of Pakistan’s Constitution, any constitutional amendment seeking to alter the boundaries of a province must first receive approval from the provincial assembly of the affected province by at least a two-thirds majority of its total membership before it can be presented to the President for assent.
