77pc of Pakistanis want new provinces, survey reveals

A growing number of Pakistanis want the country to have more provinces, and new poll results show growing public support for splitting up existing administrative units to improve governance, accelerate development and bring public services closer to citizens.

The demand is growing amid concerns that large provincial governments are struggling to meet the needs of remote areas and smaller communities. Meridian Analytics’ 2026 Meridian Country Barometer of 5,000 citizens found that 77% of respondents support annexation, a significant increase of 23 percentage points since November 2022. Support was 54% in 2022, rising to 66% in 2024 and finally reaching 77% in the latest poll.

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The findings underline how the debate over new provinces is increasingly linked to everyday governance concerns rather than political boundaries alone, with citizens expecting smaller administrative units to improve the delivery of essential services and ensure more balanced regional development.

South Punjab, Bahawalpur in focus

The demand for new provinces has remained a prominent issue in Pakistan’s political landscape, particularly in Punjab, where calls for separate South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces have repeatedly surfaced.

Supporters of a South Punjab province argue that a separate administrative structure would give the region greater attention in development planning, budget allocation and public service delivery. The region comprises several districts, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh.

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The Bahawalpur province demand also has a distinct historical background, with advocates seeking restoration of the former Bahawalpur state’s provincial status. Both proposals have featured in political manifestos, parliamentary discussions and electoral campaigns, although disagreements over boundaries, administrative arrangements and political consensus have prevented their implementation. Hazaras and Potohars

Similar requests have emerged elsewhere. There are calls for a separate province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hazara district, while proposals for a Karachi province regularly reignite the debate in Sindh. At the center of the administrative reorganization discussions are also proposals to create Potohar province to cover northern parts of Punjab.

Support from all over Pakistan

The Meridian survey found significant support in other of the four existing provinces, suggesting that demand is not limited to specific areas. The highest support was recorded in Sindh at 80%, followed by Punjab at 78%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 75% and Balochistan at 72%. Karachi stood out with 92% support, one of the strongest numbers highlighted in the survey.