Tariq Hashmi
After the recent resignation of Eight MNAs of PML-N from Southern Punjab a demand for separate Administrative Unit is again getting stronger, although the demand is not new from the deprived people of Southern Punjab and they are repeatedly demanding this unit since long but due to certain reasons the practical shape could not be given to this claim.
Along with others a major factor of unsuccessful attempts was the feudal lords of the Area, and lack of leadership, and the situation is still there. Most of the feudal lords of the area LikeYousufRazaGillani, MumtazDoltana, Abdul Hamid Khan Dasti, GhulamMustuffaKhar, SadiqHussainQureshi, SajjadHussaunQureshi, GhulamHaiderWyn, ManzoorWattoo, Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa, ZulfuqarKhosa, LateefKhosa, and Now RafiqRajwana, did not taken interest in the matter and spent their most of time and energies in getting personal benefits and saving their Governments just like Akbar-a-Azam, however the various Leaders of the recent movement Like KhusrooBakhtiyar, Shah MehmoodQureshi, Gilanis, Duranis, Qureshis, Hasmis, etc. have never talked about the issue when they were in Power, which is a questionable mystery. Any how the demand at the moment is like late but not too late.
Another interesting joke in the matter from PPP is pertinent to mention here that the Leaders and chairman of PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari whenever addressed in southern Punjab they rise a slogan (GhinsoonGhinsoonSoobaGhinsoon) but whenever the discussion starts for creation of similar unit in Sindh they strictly refused the demand with the remarks that they will not let the Sindh divide into Two parts, means they seems the creation of new unit as a step towards separation but even then gives this lolly pop to the deprived class of southern Punjab.
The reservations of the establishment in the issue are not logical because the creation of new Administrative units is very common in south Asia. When India faced the same issue of mismanagement of Indian Punjab due to its large Area and huge Population, India simplyreferred the issue to States Reorganization Commission and the organization divided the Indian Punjab in 3 Administrative Units i.e. Himachal, Haryana and Punjab. India is four time bigger than Pakistan with the Area of 32,87,240SqkM and about 5 Times bigger in Population with 1.2 Billion People. Thus the county is divided in 29 Administrative Units among which Biggest unit is Rajisthan with the Area of 342,240 SqkM and Uttar Pardesh with The population of 207,281,500 which is 16 % of Indian Population, while the smallest unit as per Area is Goa with the Area of 3702 SqkM and Sikkim with the Population of 607700 People which is 0.05 % of Indian Population.
The Situation in Brother Islamic Country of Iran is same, which is almost double in area than Pakistan with the Area of 16,28,555 SqkM and its population is one third of Pakistani Population with 8,18,22,230 People. The country is divided in 31 Administrative units. Tehran the Capital of Iran is the Biggest Administrative Unit with the area of 18,909 Sq Km and in Population as well with the number of 8 Million People which is 18 % of Iranian Population, while the Smallest Administrative unit is Al-Borz with the Area 647 SqKm and with the population of 2.5 Million which is a normal area and population of small Towns of Punjab Pakistan.
Same as if we see towards Afghanistan which is approximately 15 % Smaller than Pakistan with the area of 6,52,864SqkM and 83 % small in Population with 34.66 Million People, It also have 34 Administrative Units. Just Like Iran the biggest Administrative Unit of Afghanistan is its Capital Province Kabul with the Area of 4461 SqkM and with the Population of 4.3 Million, and the smallest one is Kapisa with the Area of 1842 SqkM only and with the Population of 4,40,000 which is equal to a housing scheme of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad as well.
Dear Readers! Point to be noted here that if in our neighbouring countries the areas of 1842 SqkM (Kapisa) 5833 Sq Km (Al-Borz ) and 3700 sqkM (Goa) with the population of 440 000, 250000 and 607700 can be given the provincial autonomy then why not the Area of 22 Districts contained on 100,000 SqkM which is 32 % of Provincial Population with 93 Million People can be created a separate province ? Another interesting fact is that, KP Province has less area than southern Punjab i.e. 74, 521 SqkM with the Population of 30Million same as GB has the area of 72,971 SqkM with the Population of 1.8 Million People. All these precedents levels the way for creation of New Administrative Unit in Southern Punjab. Moreover the need for creation of new Administrative Units is not only obligatory in Punjab but it is required in Sindh KP &Baluchistan.
The Area of Southern Punjab is highly fertile and have reserves of Minerals, but People are highly deprived and totally dependent on upper Punjab especially in Education Health and Employment. There is no up to the mark School, College, University, Medical College, Hospital, Kidney, Liver and Cardiac Institutes for their Children and patients. They are helpless to bring their patients to Lahore for treatment and send their Children to Lahore for Quality Education. Employment opportunities in Government and Private sectors are also very less and they are helpless to move towards upper side as Provincial Government has planned all Mega Projects, Industrial units, Power Plants and Government Secretariats in Lahore.
The conclusion and worth mention point is here that neither this is a lingual unit nor a step towards separation. It is purely an Administrative unit just to facilitate the deprived class of the area,and to overcome their sense of deprivation. It would be the integral Part of Pak SarZameen under SabzHilaliParcham.It would be the sign of unity, because the deprived population of the area is extremely patriotic and they Love Pakistan and ready to sacrifice their lives for Pakistan. Moreover this unit will not be the estate of siraiki speaking community as the Punjabi and Urdu speaking ethnic groups are a big reality of the region and they all are living with brotherhood and rising the voice together for this unit. So no matter if the unit may be created. Yes the creation of this new unit is a direct threat for PML-N as its creation will convert the majority of PML-N into a minority and their estate of 200,000 Sq KM will remain half. Because it is very clear that the party has not a mentionable vote bank in this area so they are not only afraid from this unit but even swear opponent of the movement. This is a bitter truth.
journalist2587@gmail.com
