Pakistan, Aug. 24 -- The origin of the recent intense debate on creating new administrative units in Pakistan stems from growing population pressure, massive wealth gaps between central and far-away regions, and demands for local power. As one of the world's largest federations, Pakistan still relies on four massive historical provinces.

This setup makes it very hard to manage public services effectively. Political leaders and experts with different ideas on the subject are involved in evaluating whether redrawing provincial boundaries can improve governance standards and public service delivery in Pakistan. The conversation has intensified following recent proposals by members of the federal cabinet to brainstorm the creation of 12 to 1...