The Meridian National Barometer 2026 revealed that a majority of Pakistanis feel that division of provinces would help tackle governance issues and administrative problems.
The nationwide survey by Meridian Analytics of 5,000 citizens found that 77% think that new provinces should be created, which is up 23 percentage points from 2022.
The results indicate that there has been a growing frustration with the current provincial administrative set up and an increasing expectation for improved governance and public service provision.
The survey indicated that current provincial governments are not attending to the development needs of their districts, with 82% of respondents indicating this.
This perception is likely to be one of the reasons for the rise in public opinion in favour of the establishment of further provinces in which people hope that the government bodies will be closer to them.
One of the most compelling arguments for the project was the enhancement of public services.
About 79% of respondents feel new provinces would help to enhance funding for district development and 83% feel they would also help to cut travel time to government offices.
In the meantime, 77% believe that police responsiveness will improve, indicating that it is also a belief among the public that administrative restructuring translates to improved law enforcement and public security.
The need for new provinces continues to be strong in all four provinces with no indications of this need being concentrated in any one region.
Sindh saw the highest overall support with 80%, and an overwhelming 92% in Karachi. 78% of the respondents in Punjab backed the proposal as compared to 75% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 72% in Balochistan.
Overall, the results reflect a country-wide collective view that administrative restructuring could be a solution to reduce regional disparities, enhance governance and increase citizens’ access to public services.
