Army chief Asim Munir eyes splitting Pakistan's four provinces into dozens of new units

Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir is said to be pushing a major administrative reform that would dissolve the nation’s four existing provinces and replace them with anywhere from a dozen to over a hundred smaller entities. Munir contends that the large size of provinces such as Punjab, home to roughly 128 million people, hampers service delivery and contributes to the country’s weak economic record. The plan would mark the first substantial change to provincial boundaries since the country’s founding in 1947.

Analysts warn that redrawing the map could weaken entrenched party bases—like the Pakistan Muslim League-N in Punjab and the Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh—and increase the armed forces’ role in civilian governance. The proposal emerges amid ongoing economic challenges, high defence spending, and the military’s long-standing dominance in Pakistan’s political system.