Pakistan, Oct. 12 -- The entire debate on the creation of new provinces in Pakistan has become muddled and confused. The central focus of the discussion is now the interests of the political elite. The people are nowhere to be seen. Lengthy arguments are being made about what a particular political party says and what serves its interests, but no meaningful discussion has yet taken place on what the people want and what is in their interest.

The reality is that the existing provincial structures have become increasingly incapable of effective governance. The political elite may not be affected to the same extent, but the problems facing ordinary people have multiplied. The distances between provincial capitals and far-flung cities are so...