Pakistan, Nov. 9 -- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has backed the creation of new provinces in Pakistan, saying even 12 could be considered, provided they are established on administrative rather than ethnic or political grounds.

Speaking with media in Sialkot on Sunday, the defence minister said the proposal to create new provinces had been under discussion for the past two months, with opinions emerging from across the country.

"If there is a proposal for 12 provinces, then make it 12, but they should not be created on the basis of language, ethnicity or political interests," he said.

Asif advocated the creation of smaller administrative units, arguing that Pakistan's growing population required a more effective system of governance t...