Political systems only work when they are carefully crafted to suit the reality. The 18th Amendment was a landmark feature in the history of political developments in Pakistan. Its goal was to reform the federal structure by shifting power from the center to the provinces. It had previously solved many issues related to the history of provincial autonomy and power sharing. Thus, this step led the governance structure toward decentralization.

The 18th Amendment aimed to decentralize power but has not extended effectively to local governments, creating governance gaps.

Yet the road towards a strong federal structure and participative democracy continues to be very challenging, more so for intra-provincial tensions and the ever-increasing demand for new provinces. The British author Samuel Smiles once opined that mere political reform isn’t the answer to cure the manifold evils that afflict society. It requires social reform, domestic reform, an individual reform. These can only manifest once systems are created to foster such change.

A key accomplishment of the amendment was the redrawing of power lines, allowing the provinces to take charge of their affairs. Yet the much-talked-about decentralization has not been extended to local governments in the provinces. Provincial authorities have always been working to undermine the local government systems in Punjab, Sindh, and KP.

In these provinces’ authority is being centralized and local bodies are being prevented from addressing grassroots issues. This negation to empower local governments contradicts the intent of the amendment, therefore creating governance gaps and fueling tensions amongst dominant and non-dominant ethnic groups within provinces.

Intra-provincial disparities can be particularly seen in Sindh, where the rural-urban divide—rooted in ethnic and political identities—continues to widen. Rural areas are dominated by Sindhi-speaking populations whereas urban centers like Karachi are dominated by Urdu-speaking communities. This interplay of issues has led to conflicts over resource distribution and administrative control that has in turn deepened mistrust and propagated grievances.

Intra-provincial disparities, such as Sindh’s rural-urban divide, fuel tensions and demands for separate provinces.

The call for new provinces has emerged as one important result of the 18th Amendment. Political parties such as PPP, PML-N, and PTI, have commonly employed the issue to create electoral leverage thereby perpetuating it in political debate. These demands have yet to result in authentic administrative action and have left the affected communities frustrated and distrusting of political statements.

The call for a South Punjab province is in itself an expression of deep-rooted grievances regarding underdevelopment and lack of representation. Because it is a predominantly Seraiki-speaking area – South Punjab has felt excluded from equal distribution of resources and influence in politics, and hence in Sindhi voices demanding that the province be divided into separate administrative units for urban centers like Karachi and Hyderabad have grown.

The argument has been that it would improve governance and alleviate urban challenges. However, the proposal is prickly because it touches upon ethnic and political divides. While Urdu-speaking urban communities feel that it is a way of addressing the issue of marginalization the rural Sindhi-speaking populations view it as a threat to Sindh’s unity and cultural identity. This is because they feel that the urban center doesn’t represent their interests.

As for the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, things have been made even more complex after the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas into a single territory, as it has also opened up demands for greater autonomy or even separate provincial status for certain areas.

Governance challenges and underdevelopment in the merged districts have brought into sharp focus the problems of integrating diverse ethnic and regional identities within existing frameworks. This illuminated the plight of the Hazara community which has been marginalized for a long time and faces systemic challenges.

Political parties instrumentalize the demand for new provinces as electoral rhetoric, delaying meaningful administrative reforms.

It makes the call for a Hazara Province louder as it underscores broader demands for greater representation and self-governance in a region marked by ethnic diversity and historical grievances.

The instrumentalization of this notion by the various political parties has further complicated the situation. All three parties have at different times supported the formation of new provinces but for reasons that are electoral and not for the sake of development or tangible change. This has then led to an important issue being watered down into mere political rhetoric.

However, despite these problems, the changing political scene offers a chance to translate the demand for new provinces into a serious policy agenda or at least more than a campaign slogan. This is only possible if political parties set aside their partisan interests and carry out a genuine debate concerning the core issues at hand. The intention must be focused on the larger goal of federalism, inclusiveness, and equitable development.

To have a long-term success of the 18th Amendment, addressing its unintended consequences is indispensable. Strengthening the local government and bringing out a balanced federal-provincial-local level power arrangement needs to be implemented. Ownership of the various diverse communities needs to be created. Governance should respond to the needs of those people and communities.

Demand for new provinces while contentious should be tread with care and responsibility as it would offer policymakers the opportunity to improve governance and representation. It is not a cause of national disintegration but a challenge to include all stakeholders from ethnic groups, political parties, and civil society in open and transparent procedures.

A balanced federal-provincial-local power arrangement is essential for the 18th Amendment’s long-term success.

By giving more importance to long-term country interests over short-term political payoffs, Pakistan can strengthen its federal structure, and then develop a culture for democratic accountability. As such. the 18th Amendment is a transformative moment in Pakistan’s journey toward federalism and democracy.

Intra-provincial conflicts, the marginalization of local governments, and the demand for new provinces must be addressed to ensure its enduring success. Building on these foundations of the amendment, Pakistan can further come nearer to realizing its vision for a truly federal and democratic state by adopting a more inclusive and equitable governance approach.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.