Pakistan's political landscape shifted dramatically this weekend as senior leaders from the MQM-P and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi threw their weight behind a proposal to create new administrative units, a move that could redraw the country's internal borders. The endorsements came just days after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged all parties to take the question of new provinces directly to the public, framing it as the "only solution" to the nation's woes. With the country's population having exploded since the 1973 Constitution fixed the current provincial structure, a growing chorus now argues that the existing framework is no longer fit for purpose. Main Developments At a press conference in Karachi, MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar delivered a blunt message: "Enough is enough." He argued that Pakistan's unprecedented population growth—"No country in the world has seen population growth as fast as ours"—makes additional administrative units essential for governance. "We need to manage and administer that, but how will we do that without additional administrative units?" he asked, pointing to the strain on service delivery and fundamental issues facing the administration. Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, speaking alongside Sattar, framed the demand as an administrative necessity rather than a political ploy. He noted that the current system, with only districts and divisions within provinces, is outdated and that the 1973 procedures can no longer be enforced under population pressure. Siddiqui revealed that the MQM has already submitted an amendment bill in the National Assembly, which he said has not been opposed and has been supported by the standing committee. Read also: 5 Key Exchanges in the PPP-PML-N War of Words Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the former premier and Awaam Pakistan convener, addressed a separate press conference in Islamabad, where he praised Naqvi for finally acknowledging that "the country is not running." Abbasi argued that this realization should have come earlier and been discussed in parliament or the cabinet. He stressed that reforms are the only way forward, but warned that "there are always people who do not want meaningful change" because their interests are tied to the status quo. Abbasi went further, insisting that merely creating new provinces would not solve the underlying problems. "The entire system needs to be changed," he said, citing the paradox of a country that after 78 years still struggles to buy flour and imports wheat despite having farmers. He alleged that those in power are more interested in purchasing official vehicles and aircraft than addressing public hardships, and he tied political stability and economic growth directly to constitutional supremacy and the rule of law. Sattar also stressed the economic dimension, noting that "Pakistan's economy is tied to its political and administrative structure." He called for "curative treatment, not symptomatic treatment," and emphasized the need to open the door for Gen-Z to play a representative role in the country's political, economic, and social landscape. "If we want to avail ourselves of these benefits, Pakistan must walk among the world with its head held high," he said, adding that new administrative units are essential for this progress. Background The push for new provinces is not new, but it has gained momentum in recent months. Naqvi's Thursday address at the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad was a watershed moment, as he explicitly called on all political parties to "settle" national-level issues, including the creation of new provinces. He argued that the matter should be taken to the public, a suggestion that aligns with the MQM's long-standing demand for a South Punjab province and other administrative reorganizations. Historically, Pakistan has experimented with administrative restructuring, most notably the One Unit scheme in the 1950s that merged all of West Pakistan into a single province. That scheme was dissolved in 1970, and provinces were restored, but as Siddiqui noted, they returned "in a different form." The 1973 Constitution laid out procedures for provincial division, but those procedures have never been invoked, partly because of political sensitivities and the lack of political will. The MQM has been a consistent advocate for new provinces, arguing that the current structure is a relic of a bygone era. Siddiqui pointed out that the party has been raising this issue when others remained silent, and he thanked those who are now echoing their demand during the month of Pakistan's independence. The party's amendment bill, which has reportedly cleared the standing committee stage, is a concrete legislative step toward realizing this goal. Abbasi's support adds a significant voice from the political establishment. As a former prime minister and the convener of Awaam Pakistan, his call for systemic reform carries weight. He acknowledged that the military's spoke