Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly backed the proposal to make Islamabad a separate province, saying he is the “biggest supporter” of an Islamabad province and would not withdraw his position regardless of whether he remains in government.
Speaking at the National Policy Dialogue in Lahore on Saturday, Naqvi said the creation of new administrative units should ultimately be decided according to the will of the people and through constitutional and political processes. He stressed that no individual or political party should have the final say on the matter.
Naqvi argued that Islamabad presents a strong case for provincial status, particularly because the federal capital does not receive a share through the National Finance Commission (NFC) in the same manner as provinces. He questioned whether residents of the capital should be treated differently from other citizens in terms of fiscal rights and representation.
The minister also linked the proposal to his broader call for a “system reset,” clarifying that he does not mean dismantling the existing system. Instead, he said reforms should focus on correcting administrative weaknesses, transferring authority closer to the people and improving the delivery of education, healthcare, justice and employment opportunities.
Naqvi maintained that new administrative units should not be created on the basis of language, ethnicity or caste. He called for political parties, Parliament and other stakeholders to engage in serious discussion before any final decision is taken.
His remarks come amid renewed political debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units, with different political groups expressing sharply different positions on the issue.
