CSS 2024 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | The Future of Creation of New Provinces in Pakistan
The following question of CSS Current Affairs 2024 is solved by Sir Ammar Hashmi, the best Current Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
This question has two parts. The first part requires elaboration on the persistent demand for creating more provinces in Pakistan, and the second part requires evaluating whether the creation of more provinces is harmful or beneficial for the people.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Unfolding rationale behind persistent demand for the creation of more provinces in Pakistan
3-What would be the potential benefits of creating more provinces in Pakistan?
- ✓Enhanced governance and administration in discrete federal units ensure accountability, transparency, and rule of law
- ✓Effective representation of all sections of society leads to more inclusive participation and responsiveness in devising policies, decision-making, and service delivery
- ✓Strengthened local government system expedite more decentralized government, increased social cohesion, and augmented citizen participation
- ✓Equitable resource distribution could enable synchronous economic growth and empower democracy in all the federating units
- ✓Reformed direct and indirect tax collection systems could contribute to reducing tax evasion, fiscal deficits, and inequality in society
- ✓Improved standard of living of the masses in terms of quality healthcare, standardized education, and lucrative income would accelerate economic growth in the country
4-On what grounds do critics argue about the harmful repercussions of creating more provinces in Pakistan?
- ✓Fragmentation of National Integration due to factionalism, regional dominance, and ethnocultural conflicts
- ✓Brewing socio-political instability in the country owing to a heterogeneous set of policies, political polarization, and social unrest
5-Critical Analysis
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Since its inception, Pakistan has dealt with multiple administrative, political, economic, ethnic and socio-cultural issues. Yet, the demand for creating new provinces in the country based on administrative and ethnocultural grounds has remained persistent over the years. After the 18th amendment, the voices for separate provinces gained momentum because of the fear of isolation, unequal resource distribution, and diminishing self-identity in provincial and regional minorities. Although the creation of more provinces promises certain political, economic, and socio-cultural benefits, another school of thought signifies the harmful consequences referring to the stability of the political and social fabric of the country. Regarding benefits, creating new provinces would ensure effective administration and governance, equitable budget allocation, improved living standards of the masses, and strengthened local government setup. Contrarily, critics argue that creating more provinces would put national integration and political stability at stake. However, modern nation-states substantiate that devising more provinces results in better governance, national synthesis, and strengthened political and democratic setup. For instance, India is a parliamentary secular democratic republic with 28 states and eight union territories entering a new era of socio-political stability. Thus, Pakistan must formulate crucial steps to create more provinces for well-governed federating units to ensure accountability, transparency, fair resource distribution, and a more inclusive social setup.
Unfolding rationale behind persistent demand for the creation of more provinces in Pakistan
Pakistan consists of seven administrative units, including Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pak-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and four provinces comprising Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Moreover, it encompasses a more than 250 million population and co-exists with diverse languages, cultures, religious sects, and ethnicities. However, in 2010, introducing the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan sparked a debate about creating more provinces. The demand has been mainly fueled by administrative, political, economic, and cultural factors in the regions of KPK for Hazara Province, South Punjab for Saraiki Province, and Karachi for Muhajir Province. While unfolding the rationale behind the persistent demand for separate provinces, provincial autonomy, ethnopolitical conflicts, inadequate budget allocation, unequal resource distribution, bad governance, and ill-representation of regional minorities are the underlying aspects. Additionally, a constant fear of isolation and shrinking self-identity exists in related communities due to insufficient economic opportunities, unsatisfactory education facilities, and substandard health management in their regions. Hence, the grievances of deprived minorities in the following regions gave birth to the demand for more administrative units to help the country become more economically and politically stable.
What would be the potential benefits of creating more provinces in Pakistan?
- Enhanced governance and administration in discrete federal units ensure accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
First, a more significant number of provinces in a country denotes more administrative units, separate institutional frameworks, and more effective policy-devising mechanisms to ensure accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. Likewise, discrete federal units lay the basis for a more synchronous democratic setup in a country with fast public service delivery and increased responsiveness in its state institutions. According to the Democracy Index, Norway scored 9.81 points and became the most democratic country in 2023, with 19 administrative regions further divided into 433 municipalities. Furthermore, the government exercises civil rights, political liberties, and the rule of law, creating a functioning democratic political system. Hence, Pakistan should develop its federating units to experience improved governance and administration, reducing corruption and related ill practices rotting the socio-political culture.
- Effective representation of all sections of society leads to more inclusive participation and responsiveness in devising policies, decision-making, and service delivery.
Second, the contemporary provincial setup of the country lacks an adequate representation of all sections of society, creating a sense of alienation and deprivation in respective communities. Furthermore, the feelings of isolation depending on ethnic identity, language, and inadequate provision of rights turn into a demand for separate provinces. For Instance, Saraikistan is a proposed administrative province by Saraiki Nationalists to merge divisions of Multan, Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, and Bhakkar in South Punjab. Likewise, devising provinces ethno-lingual would eliminate the long-standing grievances in respective regions. Moreover, it would amplify inclusive participation and responsiveness in policymaking and service delivery, creating a more unified social setup.
- The strengthened local government system expedites more decentralized government, increases social cohesion, and augments citizen participation.
Third, a strengthened local government setup offers increased efficiency in providing local services and promoting local democracy in a country. Undeniably, Pakistan, with its existing administrative system, has lagged in materializing its local government setup, resulting in adverse socio-economic indicators. Additionally, in the Constitution of Pakistan, article 140A specializes in the significance and role of local government setup. Moreover, an empowered local government setup ensures sustainable use of resources, an independent judiciary, and the rule of law. Hence, Pakistan needs to fabricate more provinces for a decentralized government to encourage equity in resource distribution, social cohesion and citizen participation.
- Equitable resource distribution could enable synchronous economic growth and empower democracy in all the federating units.
Fourth, equitable resource distribution in all the federating units is pivotal for synchronous economic growth, empowered democracy, and social stability in a country. Moreover, it is also crucial in improving population management by providing parallel economic opportunities, education facilities, and health services. According to the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the provinces’ share stands at 57.5%, with a more significant share allocated to Punjab (51.74%) than other provinces based on more substantial population. Therefore, it results in an unjustified distribution system and allocation of resources, services, and management. Thus, there is a dire need to establish more administrative units and restructure the existing revenue distribution system to reduce inequality, alleviate poverty, and uplift the country’s economic status.
- Reformed direct and indirect tax collection systems could contribute to reducing tax evasion, fiscal deficits, and inequality in society.
Fifth, a well-functioning taxation system can provide all citizens equal opportunities regardless of socio-economic background. Moreover, it gives the government enough revenues to allocate social services funds and combat tax evasion and fiscal deficits. Unfortunately, the trend is reversed in Pakistan, and a widening gap exists between active taxpayers and non-taxpayers. According to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), active taxpayers in income and sales taxes for 2023 are 3.66 million and 0.2 million, respectively. Therefore, there is a dire need to overhaul the country’s tax collection system by broadening the tax base, improving tax administration, and strengthening tax enforcement procedures. Hence, smaller provinces with reformed and improved taxation systems could upturn the country’s financial standing and maintain a fairer distribution of wealth.
- Improved living standards for the masses regarding quality healthcare, standardized education, and lucrative income would accelerate economic growth in the country.
Sixth, the living standard of the masses determines the economic well-being, democratic values, and skilled and healthy labour force of any country. Likewise, providing quality healthcare, standardized education, and ample income opportunities are the facets of an improved standard of living. According to the OECD, Sweden outperforms other countries in the Better Life Index in terms of employment, skill-based education, civic engagements, health, and environmental quality. Moreover, the government is divided into 21 regions and 290 municipalities with an empowered local self-government setup ensuring the provision of rights to its residents. Hence, Pakistan could also provide quality life to its masses and accelerate economic growth by decentralizing current administrative units.
On what grounds do critics argue about the harmful repercussions of creating more provinces in Pakistan?
- Fragmentation of National Integration due to factionalism, regional dominance, and ethnocultural conflicts
While devising more provinces, critics argue that national integration would be at stake due to factionalism, regional dominance, and ethnocultural conflicts. Contrarily, national integration acts like a binding force in the country that connects diverse social groups regardless of their identity, language, ethnicity, and religion. Moreover, modern nation-states elucidate that enacting discrete federating units in a country results in national synthesis, social cohesion, and better governance and administration. For instance, India is a parliamentary secular democratic republic with 28 states and eight union territories entering a new era of socio-political stability. Moreover, the country is a hub of more than two thousand ethnic groups that have co-existed, and socio-economic transformations have recently improved. Hence, creating more provinces in Pakistan would not affect national integration.
- Brewing socio-political instability in the country owing to a heterogeneous set of policies, political polarization, and social unrest
Again, critics argue that fabricating more administrative units would result in socio-political instability in the country owing to a heterogeneous set of policies, political polarization, and social unrest. In contrast, each province in a country holds the authority to exercise its constitutional power by devising and implementing a diverse range of policies. Furthermore, provincial autonomy leverages a state’s provincial government to administer its affairs without any external control or intrusion effectively. For example, the United States of America (USA), a federal republic of 50 states, has a stable political setup with an adaptive approach focused on justice, accountability, and reconciliation. Moreover, the country offers a wide range of racial and ethnic diversity, maintaining social harmony and peaceful concurrence. Thus, establishing further administrative units in Pakistan would not eliminate the country’s socio-political stability.
Critical Analysis
Critically, the demand for creating new provinces in Pakistan has often surfaced at various intervals, especially after the commencement of the 18th Amendment. Yet, it has remained a distant dream for the people asking for equal rights, equitable resource distribution, and justified share in budget allocation. Nevertheless, unanimity among Federal and Provincial Governments, Political Leaders, and significant stakeholders is vital for accomplishing the daunting task. Moreover, there is a need for consensus by an independent commission for new provinces depending upon the sensitivity of the following matter. Likewise, the role of government multiplies when masses dealing with economic instability and political uncertainty demand separate provinces. Furthermore, certain voices intensify when the benefits of creating more provinces in the country outweigh the harmful implications. Therefore, Pakistan must reconsider its existing administrative system and formulate ways and procedures to enable provincial autonomy.
Conclusion
To cap it all, the demand for creating separate provinces in Pakistan by different ethnocultural groups rebounds occasionally due to multiple administrative, political, and economic issues. However, the 18th amendment has become a cornerstone in amplifying voices based on fear of isolation, unequal resource distribution, and eliminating self-identity in Saraiki, Hazara, and Muhajir communities in South Punjab, KPK, and Karachi, respectively. Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic with seven administrative units, including Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pak-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and four provinces comprising Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Nevertheless, the country could change its socioeconomic outlook by devolving more administrative units to ensure a strengthened local government setup, effective representation of all sections of society, and an upgraded living standard for the masses. Thus, Pakistan needs to formulate crucial steps to ensure accountability, transparency, fair resource distribution, and a more inclusive social setup, making the country politically, socially, and economically more stable.
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