New provinces after consensus, says PM

bahawalpur — Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday said that new provinces should be created only through political consensus as no single party could bring about a constitutional amendment, nor it should do so.

Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the 45-km long section of National Highway-5 linking Jalapur Pirwala with Uch Sharif areas of South Punjab, the prime minister said all political parties should incorporate the demand of new provinces in their manifestos and hold dialogue after general election to evolve consensus on the subject.

“The same demands exist in KP, Sindh and Balochistan. People also talk of Southern Punjab. People also talk of Hazara and South KP. This is a political dialogue. All political parties should join their heads as no single party can decide it,” he remarked.

Referring to some parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) who had recently announced their resignations, calling for South Punjab province, the prime minister said they had been the part of the PML-N government for last five years and they should have raised the issue there.

Holding a Press conferences two months before the election will not help resolve the public issues. Public representation is not made through Press conferences but by public service, the prime minister remarked. — APP