Pakistan, Aug. 16 -- Pakistan's debate over new provinces has suddenly moved from occasional political rhetoric to the corridors of power. It is reported that serious discussions are underway over creating new administrative units, with a senior government functionary viewing the exercise as a possible precursor to the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment. More strikingly, proposals under discussion reportedly include bringing Karachi and Gwadar under federal control, dividing Punjab into three units and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into two.

This is no longer an abstract debate about administrative efficiency. It potentially touches the territorial composition of Pakistan's federating units, the constitutional balance established after the 18th...