Pak parliamentary panel finalises proposal for new province

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani parliamentary panel has finalised a proposal for carving out a new province that will comprise almost one-third of the politically crucial province of Punjab, triggering angry protests from the main opposition PML-N.

The Parliamentary Commission on Creation of New Provinces in Punjab, headed by senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Farhatullah Babar, yesterday approved the draft of a constitutional amendment bill for creating the province of "Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab".

The new province - which will be Pakistan's fifth - will comprise three southern divisions and two western districts of Punjab, which is currently ruled by the PML-N led by former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The PML-N, which has been boycotting the commission's proceedings, has announced that it will not accept the panel's recommendations.

PML-N leaders have been accusing the PPP of "bulldozing" the parliamentary process for creating new provinces just to gain political mileage out of the demand for a new province in southern Punjab ahead of the next general election, scheduled to be held by May.

The parliamentary panel's report on the new province will be presented in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament next week.

Members of the panel said the constitutional amendment bill covered all issues, including distribution of the financial resources of Punjab.

PPP lawmaker Jamsheed Dasti, a member of the commission, told reporters that the creation of a new province was the demand of the people of southern Punjab and Bahawalpur.

The PPP-led government is only acting to fulfil this demand according to the Constitution, he said.