KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain Tuesday said that attention should be paid to equitable distribution of national resources and elimination of the sense of deprivation among different groups and new provinces should be formed in the country.

While addressing a joint meeting of the MQM Rabita (Coordination) Committee in London and Pakistan, he said formation of new provinces will guarantee security and prosperity of the country.

The MQM chief called upon the government to convene an all parties conferences (APC) on other national issues also.

Altaf Hussain appealed to scholars, political leaders, intellectuals and the people, including, students, labourers, farmers and peasants to pay attention to their responsibilities towards the country's development and security.

He said the country was divided into four administrative units in 1971 and the population has increased manifold since than. However, no new administrative changes were made or initiated to run the country smoothly, he added.

We should learn lesson from the countries that got independence sixty years ago and they have formed new provinces after independence with growth of population in these countries, said the MQM chief.

We have not taken any initiatives in this regard and have been trying to find solution in (existing) administrative structures, which is uneven, he added.

Hussain said that new provinces will be good for solidarity, development and prosperity of the country.

Meanwhile reacting on the statement, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon and chief of the Sindhi nationalist Awami Tehrik party, Ayaz Palijo said division of the province will not be tolerated at any cost.

Memon said he welcomes the MQM chief’s call for formation of new smaller provinces in the country “as long as it was not meant to divide the Sindh province”.

Palijo showed concerns on the timing of the statement from Hussain saying as a national consensus was being evolved over counter-terrorism and security, a statement such as this could plunge the country into further turmoil.

He urged the concerned quarters to take notice of Altaf Hussain’s statement along with his calls for handing over Karachi to Pakistan Army.