Lahore: Acting Governor Punjab Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Wednesday said the creation of new provinces should not be pursued hastily, emphasizing that such an important constitutional matter required broad national consensus and meaningful dialogue to ensure effective governance.
Addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Afeera Zubair Cambridge Block at the District Public School and College (DPS), Kasur, he said discussions on governance and administrative reforms should never be considered taboo. Pakistan, he noted, had experimented with various local government systems over the years, making it essential to hold an open and constructive debate on the country’s administrative structure. He said any proposal to create new provinces or administrative units should be examined carefully and decided only after thorough consultation. Pakistan, he added, could also benefit from studying the administrative experiences of neighbouring countries.
The acting governor stressed that greater administrative and financial powers should be devolved to local governments, enabling elected representatives to perform their constitutional responsibilities effectively. He also advocated giving public representatives a greater role in decisions relating to schools and colleges.
Referring to the country’s security situation, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said Pakistan continued to face the dual challenges of terrorism and fifth-generation warfare. He said the armed forces, police, teachers and citizens were all contributing to the defence and stability of the country, while anti-Pakistan propaganda was gradually being exposed. National institutions, he added, could only be strengthened through dialogue, mutual understanding and consensus rather than confrontation. He said every citizen deserved access to quality education, reliable public transport and an improved standard of living. Highlighting the Punjab government’s development initiatives, he said the Suthra Punjab Programme was addressing a fundamental public need by improving sanitation and municipal services under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
To a question, the acting governor said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) remained a coalition partner and that the government continued to function with its support. Referring to the forthcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he said political statements should be viewed in the context of the election campaign, adding that ethics, integrity and adherence to democratic principles remained the foundation of good governance.
Earlier, addressing a Police Martyrs’ Day ceremony at DPS Kasur, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan paid rich tribute to police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty, describing them as the pride of the nation whose sacrifices would always be remembered.
He said defending the country was not limited to the battlefield, as standing for truth, justice and the rule of law was equally honourable. Recalling that he had personally known many of the fallen officers, he announced that a ‘Wall of Honour’ would be established at the office of the District Police Officer (DPO), Kasur, to commemorate their sacrifices, and pledged to contribute financially towards the project.
Commending the Punjab Police for performing their duties with dedication despite limited manpower and resources, the acting governor announced that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, would bear the expenses of postgraduate education abroad for children of police martyrs. He directed the authorities to submit the names of eligible students so that the initiative could be implemented.
Describing the fight against terrorism as a national war rather than merely a counterterrorism campaign, he said the professionalism demonstrated by Pakistan’s armed forces and police had earned international recognition. He added that the spirit of sacrifice shown by the martyrs must continue to inspire future generations.
He also announced that he would write to the DPO Kasur, seeking details of talented children of police martyrs to ensure that every possible educational and financial support was extended to them.Among those present were Provincial Law Minister Rana Iqbal, Minister of State Malik Rashid Ahmad Khan, MNAs Rana Muhammad and Sheikh Saad Waseem, MPAs Ahsan Raza Khan, Chaudhry Ilyas Gujjar, Naeem Safdar and Safia Saeed, Deputy Commissioner Kasur, DPO Kasur Aftab Ahmad Phularwan, police officers, teachers, students and a large number of families of police martyrs.