LAHORE: Speakers at a seminar on Sunday opposed the division of Punjab into smaller provinces (South Punjab province) as they said it would not serve the people of Punjab and ultimately lead to weakening of the very foundations of the country.

The carving of a new province in Punjab was a design against the country and Punjabis, and would benefit only the South Punjab’s landlords or pirs. Therefore, no step should be taken in a haste, they said at the seminar on “Demands of New Provinces in Pakistan, and Punjab” organised by the Punjab Bachao Tehrik.

Writer Parveen Malik wondered as to who gave the idea of dividing Punjab into more provinces. Did the originators of this idea want Punjabis to once again harm each other as they did in 1947? The English needed division of Punjab in 1947 to serve their own interests, she said, wondering as to why there was a talk of further dividing Punjab.

She said if the basis of this division was poverty then those who matter should end poverty. Hatred against Lahore was its development but in fact this development was cosmetic. Punjab was also accused of plundering national wealth. The answer to all these allegations was strengthening local governments and empowering them to resolve problems of the people of all regions.

“The government should not open all fronts at the same time,” she advised.

Former federal secretary Tariq Mahmud shared his perspective based on his vast experience as a development practitioner. He was critical of the development model which was skewed and widening the gap between different regions of the federation.

He suggested various measures to empower the outlying areas including fiscal transfers and ensuring their effective utilisation. He was critical of the municipalization of provincial governments and strongly advocated strengthening of local government institutions.

He said the Constitution of Pakistan provided for four provinces. And it required amendment to the constitution with a two-thirds majority in parliament to divide a province. One could remove deprivation if it was being cited as the reason for a new province.

A new province in Punjab could lead to division of other provinces. One could also improve administration and development in the neglected area by empowering the local governments and creation of regions with fixed fiscal allocations, he said.

Mr Anwar Aziz Chandio from Sindh said Punjab should not be divided as Sindhis would not allow division of Sindh which would be demanded as a result. Division of Punjab would weaken Pakistan. Punjab was divided in 1947 without asking Punjabis for it. Now, Punjabis were opposing its further division and must be heard carefully, he said.

Mr Jamil Ahmad Paul said the example of more provinces in India could not be replicated in Pakistan. Provinces in India were carved on the basis of language and following this example would divide the entire Pakistan, he said.

He said Punjab was being targeted with baseless propaganda. The aim of the South Punjab province was to fool people and hand over the region to landlords and pirs, he said. As to how those who never allowed schools in the areas of their influence would serve the proposed new province, he questioned.

Mr Amir Riaz said there was a need to unearth the reasons active behind the plans to divide Punjab for the sixth time. Every time it was divided, its people faced destruction. The number of Punjabis stood higher than people of other provinces after the fall of Dhaka and many attempts were made to upset this majority.

He said the issue of South Punjab would bury the real issues the country was facing. Its creation would serve those who wanted to divide the country on a linguistic basis.

Dr Ansar Jamil, Mr Nain Sukh, Mr Amid Butt, Mr Ahmad Raza and Mr Tauheed Chattha also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2018