Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has launched the ‘Marka-e-Khushali’ movement, a new political platform centered on the demand for the creation of additional provinces in Pakistan. Durrani, who previously served as the information minister, framed the movement as a necessary step to decentralize power and address the long-standing socio-economic grievances of neglected regions.
The movement officially debuted with a call for administrative restructuring, specifically targeting the creation of a South Punjab province and other administrative units. Durrani argues that the current centralized governance model has failed to deliver basic services to the grassroots level, leaving millions outside the reach of the state’s development agenda.
“The country’s survival depends on administrative efficiency,” Durrani told supporters during the launch event. He contended that the concentration of power in provincial capitals has created a sense of alienation among citizens in peripheral districts.
Political analysts note that the timing of this movement is significant. As Pakistan faces a recurring economic crisis and rising political polarization, demands for new provinces—often sidelined by major political parties for fear of electoral repercussions—are resurfacing. While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have historically paid lip service to the idea of a South Punjab province, little progress has been made on the ground.
Durrani’s platform aims to bypass traditional party lines, seeking to mobilize local stakeholders who feel sidelined by the current political elite. However, the movement faces a steep climb. Creating new provinces requires a constitutional amendment, which mandates a two-thirds majority in Parliament—a threshold that currently seems out of reach for any single political faction.
Critics are already questioning the movement’s viability, suggesting it may serve as a pressure tactic rather than a structured legislative push. Others argue that without a broader consensus from the establishment and the major parliamentary parties, the ‘Marka-e-Khushali’ will struggle to move beyond rhetoric.
For now, Durrani is focusing on building a grassroots base. Whether this movement can force a genuine debate on administrative reform in the National Assembly, or if it will fade as another localized pressure group, remains the central question for his supporters.
