Karachi: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that discussing the creation of new provinces is not an unacceptable idea and that the debate should instead focus on the constitutional method for creating them.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the upgrading of the Airport Central Government Dispensary, Kamal said the facility would be converted into a secondary-care hospital with 40 beds and a range of medical services.
He said the project would cost approximately Rs660 million and was expected to be completed within four months. The upgraded hospital would also provide a 24-hour emergency service, allowing residents to access urgent medical treatment without having to travel long distances.
Kamal said local residents would no longer need to travel elsewhere for services such as X-rays and other basic diagnostic facilities.
He acknowledged that securing federal funding for development projects was not easy, saying that obtaining approval and resources from the federal government required considerable effort.
The minister said he also intended to involve the private sector in the management of the upgraded facility.
According to Kamal, the federal government has secured Rs2.86 billion for projects aimed at expanding government dispensaries.
Health Challenges
The federal minister also highlighted several health challenges facing Pakistan, particularly in Sindh.
He claimed that approximately 11 million people in Pakistan are living with hepatitis C, while a large number of people have not yet undergone screening.
Kamal said access to clean drinking water remains a major problem in Sindh, claiming that around 80% of the province’s population does not have access to clean drinking water.
He also referred to maternal and child mortality, saying that approximately 11,000 mothers die during childbirth and around 400,000 children die each year.
The minister further claimed that one in every three people suffers from diabetes and noted that Pakistan continues to be classified among countries affected by polio.
According to Kamal, a significant proportion of diseases are linked to contaminated drinking water, with him putting the figure at 68%.
He argued that improving access to clean water and basic healthcare could therefore play a major role in reducing the country’s disease burden.
Concerns Over Jobs and Domiciles
Kamal also raised concerns about employment opportunities for young people in urban Sindh.
He alleged that fake domiciles were being created to take advantage of quotas intended for local residents and claimed that young people from urban Sindh were being denied government employment.
He said that the issue had contributed to frustration among young people and increased their sense of alienation from the system.
The minister said that after being given responsibility, he had tried to reduce the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens.
He referred to water shortages in both low-income settlements and affluent areas such as Clifton and Defence, saying that residents were being forced to purchase water.
Kamal also criticized the alleged use of water tankers by ministers and government officials while ordinary citizens struggle to obtain water.
He said such disparities had caused people to become increasingly disillusioned.
Remarks on Provincial Status
Kamal then turned to the sensitive issue of provincial boundaries and administrative restructuring.
He said that for decades the existing system had contributed to young people being labeled as traitors. According to him, some people became so frustrated by their circumstances that they eventually took up arms and moved into the mountains.
He argued that the Constitution already provides a procedure for creating new provinces.
“Talking about a province is not blasphemy; we can discuss the method,” Kamal said.
He pointed out that the Constitution has been amended 27 times, arguing that this demonstrates that constitutional provisions can be changed when there is a political and legal consensus to do so.
His remarks appear to support discussion of new provinces while emphasizing that any such change must be pursued through the constitutional process.
Kamal’s comments come amid renewed political debate over administrative divisions and the possibility of creating additional provinces in Pakistan. Supporters argue that smaller provinces could improve governance and representation, while opponents warn that such proposals could create new political and administrative disputes.
The minister’s position was that the question should not be treated as taboo. Instead, he suggested that the focus should be on determining an appropriate and constitutional mechanism for considering such proposals.
At the event, however, his primary focus remained on healthcare and public services. The planned conversion of the government dispensary into a 40-bed secondary hospital is intended to expand access to medical care for residents in the area.
The project, along with the broader allocation of Rs2.86 billion for dispensary expansion, reflects the federal government’s stated effort to strengthen primary and secondary healthcare infrastructure.
Kamal’s remarks therefore combined criticism of existing governance and service-delivery problems with a call for constitutional debate on provincial restructuring.
His central argument was that grievances over representation, resources and governance should be addressed through constitutional and political means rather than allowing frustration to develop into violence or alienation.
About The Author
