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THERE is little disagreement on the suggestion that Pakistan needs many more provinces than the existing four (five, if one includes Gilgit-Baltistan). From aspects of political economy to being able to better administer smaller units, many arguments support the idea of numerous new provinces.
The argument that more provinces would break Punjab’s hegemony over the rest of Pakistan and parts of what currently constitute Punjab itself are equally valid. A Seraiki and Hazara suba are a key requirement for the people of those regions. It has been suggested that the older 12 divisions of Pakistan, with modifications, should become provinces or autonomous administrative units. One of them was Karachi Division.
The issue of making Karachi a province is laced with emotion. Any such demand is seen as incendiary and challenges the supposed integrity of the Pakistani nation-state. Karachi’s political economy must be studied to consider whether a city of 20 million could exist as a province or even as an independent territory.
Karachi is Pakistan’s most developed economic and social administrative entity. In almost every economic and social indicator, it tops the list of Pakistan’s 106 districts. In terms of literacy, based on the 1998 census, Karachi has the second highest literacy ratio after Islamabad (72.4pc) with 72.2pc. However, Karachi Central has the highest literacy ratio in Pakistan with 76pc. In the case of female literacy, Karachi Division has a higher literacy rate than any other district in Pakistan at 63.9pc — Karachi Central has a literacy ratio of 73.9pc and Karachi East 70.1pc.
A study by Syed Ashraf Wasti and Minhaj Uddin Siddiqui, ranking 101 Pakistani districts according to the level of socio-economic development and using various indicators and statistical techniques, ranked Karachi on top or second. Similarly, Haroon Jamal and A.J. Khan computed and ranked the districts according to an index of multiple deprivation and established that Karachi was the ‘least deprived district’ of Pakistan, with the least incidence of poverty.
It’s not surprising that Karachi dominates much of Pakistan’s revenue collection statistics. Much of Pakistan’s economic, manufacturing, services and related production and value addition still takes place here. Karachi contributes more than 35pc of all Pakistan’s direct taxes. Of the share of direct taxes and revenue collection in Sindh, Karachi contributes almost 96pc of the province’s share; it also provides around 35pc of total sales tax collected in Pakistan showing a strong consumer base.
It is critical to examine demographic and linguistic structure and trends in Karachi before making political demands related to creating a new province. Many important facts about Karachi must be highlighted. Karachi’s population growth rate over the last few decades has been falling and may have stabilised. The next census might reveal different figures, but this is what we have right now.
Importantly, the migrant population in Karachi fell from almost 33pc in 1981 to near 22pc in 1998 — not surprising given the first wave of migrants to Karachi from India completely changed the city’s demography. Migration is slower now, and almost all from within Pakistan. This has a major impact on the future of Karachi’s demographics.
As more migrants have come to Karachi from the rest of Pakistan, despite a stable growth rate for the city, the proportion of non-Urdu speakers has increased. Haris Gazdar predicts that by 2025, non-Urdu speakers would constitute 60pc of Karachi’s population.
Given the desire for more provinces, arguments have been made for making Karachi a province. While serious political factors would inhibit such a move, it seems clear, using limited data conducting static and non-dynamic analysis ie, not considering the repercussions, that if Karachi was made a separate entity — a province — it is likely to be better off economically.
This statement is clearly limited and comes with ‘ifs and buts’, but on the surface it seems that since Karachi contributes 95pc of the revenues collected from Sindh, if these were allocated to Karachi and the money stayed with it, it would have a major, positive impact on the city. Karachi would not need additional federal government assistance.
Under a redefined, negotiated agreement with the centre, with much of the self-generated revenue kept for it, Karachi would be more than self-sufficient and would have a surplus too, some of which could be transferred to the centre or the other provinces. There’s little doubt that the existing economic base of Karachi, ceteris paribus, would allow Karachi ample resources to develop and be self-sufficient with a surplus.
However, Karachi’s linguistic distribution raises complicated issues. Unlike a Seraiki province, or one in the Hazara or Potwar region, Karachi’s population is not homogenous. Karachi is no longer an Urdu-speaking city. It is a hugely multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic city. Urdu speakers, while the main ethnic group, are by no means the dominant majority.
Any attempt to make a province only on linguistic lines would face the consequences of pressure and opposition from other ethnic groups in Karachi. As a province, Karachi would need to accommodate all the different linguistic and cultural groups living in the city. It might even address the issue of ethnic differences, since Karachi province would speak for the people of Karachi, regardless of their ethnicity.
Karachi has benefited from the huge contribution of numerous ethnic groups in Pakistan who have either migrated here or who supply skills or capital. Karachi province could be beneficial for all its residents regardless of the language they speak. Incidentally, the same arguments would apply to a strong and autonomous city government as well.
The writer is a political economist.
Comments (30) Closed
Spot on, Mr Zaidi! I have been thinking on exactly the same lines. I think converting Karachi to a 'special administrative zone' or a province, some form of a city state is best for Pakistan, not just Karachi. There should be strict border control, with even Pakistanis that seek to work in Karachi should be required to obtain a visa. Complete control on revenue collection and public expenditures etc.
By the way, I am not a Karachiite, I am from KPK, but I have lived in Karachi and experienced its vibrancy back in the day. I despair at the spiraling downfall of this great city.
Cheers,
T Khan Malaysia
Talking about beaking Sindh into pieces is fueling the fire of already ripe ethnic divide in the province. This is impossible. ''Marsoon marsoon sindh na desoon''
All progressive people of Pakistan think that there is nothing wrong in creating more provinces in Pakistan. It will help manage smaller provinces efficiently. Karachi could be one province. Let's have a referendum.
The numbers clearly lay down the reason why PPP doesn't want Karachi to separate - their interior Sindh districts (which contribute less than 4% of the provincial revenue) won't be able to leech off of Karachi's 96% share. Karachi needs to be given an autonomous govt for administrative reasons, it's only logical - it is impossible for a single govt to govern a city of 20 million and a huge province on its own.
Dividing land on the basis of economic convenience of one group and completely bulldozing the historical connection of the land with the other group is a criminal short-sightedness and would set a dangerous example in the region. Baloch people for the same reason are opposing the development of Gawadar City until suitable time, because if the rapid development continues the population in Gadder of non-Baloch people will swell to such an extent in few years that they would demand Gawadar a separate province. We should create harmony and not play with the history and rights of the indigenous people.
The Waderas have extended their rule from rural Sindh to Urban Sindh through PPP. Why the illiterate 'waderas-turned-politicians' should enslave the educated and productive urban population?
The writer has made sweeping assumptions and jumped to conclusions. Good governance rather than making new provinces is the need of the day. The writer has also not taken into consideration the history and the rights of the indigenous people. With one swift stroke, financial urban centers should not be teared away from rural areas. The people, who welcomed migrants with open arms in the name of Islam, should not be restricted to rural areas. This would be a huge injustice and would further divide people. Such sensitive issues should be dealt with care.
@Qamar: The political parties of urban areas should make an attempt to connect with the rural areas and extend their influence there. It is really unfortunate that political parties of both the rural and the urban areas are becoming mutually exclusive and playing politics of divide and rule. Their is actually no disconnect at the people to people level.
Karachi is no longer an Urdu-speaking city. It is a hugely multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic city. Urdu speakers, while the main ethnic group, are by no means the dominant majority.
That's what the thing is..So a province can be made which would be called on unethnic basis and that's good i guess. Because the one who are opposing Sindh-II are saying that province shouldn't be made on ethnic basis.
The writer forgot to mention that why Karachi collects more taxes than any other region. The reason is that Karachi is a port city and all imports and export taxes on behalf of Federal government are taken place in Karachi. Do you know more than 60 percent of the total products imported and exported from Karachi are actually destined to or from Punjab.?. Similarly KSE ( Karachi Stock Market ) has registered all big corporations of Pakistan and because these companies have their tax collection in Karachi so it creates an illusion of tax generation from within the city actually.
If all provinces will start to take hold of taxes on their borders rather than Federal tax collection in Karachi then the all the statistics will drastically change.
Also for the information of author I live in South Punjab and there is no such thing as Seraiki Ethnicity. Even before the creation of Pakistan no Seraiki word existed. The word Seraiki was established in 1970s. The Seraiki movement is Linguistic movement not an Ethnic and Seraiki is a collection of old dialects of South Punjab derived from Western Punjabi known as Landha.
The demand of the Separate South Punjab province is Administrative because of Unequal division of resources between Lahore region and the rest and it does not create a true separate ethnicity away from the rest of the residents of North, Central and North Eastern Punjab.
Will the Army let the city government whether as a special administrative zone or in its present form do away the their control through the so many cantonment boards which are a real pain in the neck for governance!
Thank you Mr. Akber to write down such a great article. I wish more articles to be published soon to highlight the most important issue for Karachite. If we belive in democracy if a refrendum to be conducted in Karachi for a seprate province ..... majority will vote for new province. Wadera's of interior sindh will oppose due to their power and control will be vanished. These wadera's who travel on expensive vehicles lives like Majesty never pay taxes as tax does not apply on them loose the control. PPP and Interior sindh would not like that Karachi would grow they have managed to over throw district goverment system CDGK which was benifical for Karachi wants this city to be ruined and become goth etc we can see they are working on this direction Chinqchi rickshaw are the best example as they have replaced Green buses ........ If we are democratic .... we must listen to the people of Karachi and they want seprate province
@Qamar: Wadera"s of Sindh are atleast governing the province from within Pakistan not like your leader who has not stepped in Pakistan for years while he has been part of all the Govts for last several decades.
@Ahmed: PPP na khape, na khape, na khape.
Excellent idea all educated people think.
@Khurram Awan: Dude he is talking about direct tax.....
No matter what is done Pakistan is doomed under our beloved politicians.
Ayub Khan's division of Pakistan into smaller sub-units failed miserably and hence reversal back to four provinces. People have to stop beating the drums of this province or that province. If recent election is any indication, Pakistanis have already voted for four ethnicities in four provinces. The sooner the parasites learn the better it will be for them. Keep your bags packed and your Indian Identities and passports handy.
THERE is little disagreement on the suggestion that Pakistan needs many more provinces than the existing four, as per who? Only signatories to the lahore resolution of 1940, the constituent units have this sole individual right to decide this issue or not to. Any body else will be tinkering with the very foundation of the pakistani state, a very dangerous idea.
In 1969 I advocated political division of East and West Pakistan into 65 provinces.
looking back it was not such an stupid idea.
political divisions need to be on ethic an linguistic lines with protection of minorities for any system to work for a reasonable time. Nothing is forever bt the idea is to have sufficiently stable time frame for people to achieve medium term objectives in terms of social and economic goals.
The so-called Waderas in the rural areas and extortionists in the urban areas must not be the rulers over the civilized people.
@Khurram Awan: You have nothing to support your hypothesis only the made up story.
We should not make provinces on linguistic basis; already four provinces a problem; it was in year 2000 and in one of my article published in "the new international", I did wrote for converting all old 12 division into states with elected governors/mayors. that is the only reasonable solution to this issue
Excellent idea to make more provinces in Pakistan.
''Marsoon marsoon sindh na desoon'' coming from Bhuttos shows that they are no different form late GM Syed or all the other blackmailing Sindhi leaders. People living in palaces do not have the right to represent the Haris and poor of Sindh or talk on their behalf. What have all these Sindhi "biggies" done for their poor people other than depriving them of their most basic rights, enslaving their soul with fear, chaining their thoughts to not to think beyond these "biggies" or exploiting them as and when required. This ''Marsoon marsoon sindh na desoon" card has been used so much and so many times that it carries neither any meaning nor weight. All the Sindhi leaders (nationalist or non-nationalist) should after ''Marsoon marsoon sindh na desoon" add Sindh ja maal Sindhi leader akelay khasoon.
Belawal, JiyaySindh and all suck likeminded people shoudl know that it is no more the question of giving a separate status to Karachi, Pothwar or Seraiki etc. It is the need of time that Pakistan should have 15-20 or whatever number of self administered states. NO more Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan or KPK prvince. Let all of us come out of narrow mindedness and stop thinking along the lines of ''Marsoon marsoon sindh na desoon". This card has been played and non-Sindhis cannot be blackmailed by this slogan any more.
@ Khurram A: Your economist you have think about why your putting your finger in province issues..Currently are facing issue terrorism in Pakistan and some are burning place Quaid Azam Place and his photos and you are promoting such useless things it may cause more division among nation. Kindly think Good for yourself and for PAkistan.
After going through your article, I would like to suggest you not to publish this type of article. It not only spreads a hatred message amid people but also creates self-deficiency, hurdles, ethnicity, discrimination and sentiments. Our beloved country is based upon five provinces that have been given authority to regulate their systems within provinces under Federal Government. So, province would be deemed as a highest revenue generated rather than a particular city of 107 cities of Pakistan. Furthermore, there is no need to demand for Karachi as a separate province and it should not be connected to Seraiki and Hazara demand for province. Karachi is the capital and heart of Sindh and business hub of Pakistan and InshaALLAH would remain forever. United Sindh, United Pakistan!
@Faraz: Exactly. The multi-ethnicity and multi-linguistics of Karachi is all the more reason for making Karachi a province on administrative grounds. It is a multi-cultural city society which can stand on its own.
Over the next few decades, more and more people will migrate from the rural areas to urban areas and we need to develop our urban centers, especially in Sindh. It will necessitate the formation of more provinces for administrative purposes. Let's say Sindh is divided into multiple provinces Lower Sindh, Middle Sindh and Upper Sindh (better / more appropriate names) with Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkar as the provincial capitals. This will allow Hyderabad and Sukkar to come out of Karachi's shadow and start developing at much faster rates because they will now be provincial capitals.
Of course other things will need to be taken care of, such as the distribution of resources. The province containing Karachi will undoubtedly return a surplus, implying that fund should be allocated in the NFC award of the basis of lack of development and these surplus funds can be channeled to the other two provinces for their development.
@Zulfiqar: I don't think that there should be any province made on linguistic basis. All provinces should be based on administrative basis. When splitting a province into multiple provinces, the two basic criteria should be:
This way we have a better chance of progressing quickly as a country.
@Ali and @Zulfiqar: I would prefer to be a native of Pakistan rather than of a province. The only thing that matters is the progress of Pakistan as a nation and as a country. However it does not imply that if one area of the country is more developed than other areas, you suppress it rather than trying to lift up those areas that are less developed. If the solution is to create more administrative zones that are called provinces (or to continue with the existing provincial model), so be it. For me, the primary, secondary and tertiary is always UNITED PAKISTAN. The rest come later.