Talk is of administrative units, not new provinces: Khawaja Asif

Speaking to the media in the federal capital, Khawaja Asif said people have no objection to new provinces being created in Punjab, but object when new provinces are proposed in their own province.

He said the party has not yet held a formal meeting or expressed a unanimous view on the creation of administrative units. Individual views of party leaders are coming forward.

The Defence Minister said he had been working for a long time to ensure that the transfer of powers to the lowest level, as laid down in the 18th Amendment, is implemented and strengthened, and that powers can be transferred to district governments.

Khawaja Asif said an attack by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia would be treated as an attack on Pakistan. Speaking about Islamabad, he said the federal capital could be made a federal territory, as many countries have federal territories and Washington is also a federal territory.

He added that Islamabad could be kept as a federal territory run directly by the Centre, and that one or two more federal territories might also be created.