By The South Asia Times

LAHORE, Pakistan -  Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have agreed that any move to create new provinces or hold a referendum on the issue must follow constitutional procedures and cannot bypass parliament, as debate over restructuring the country's administrative boundaries gains momentum, according to sources.

The understanding emerged during a meeting between the two leaders at the prime minister's residence in Model Town, Lahore, on Saturday, according to media reports citing government sources.

The discussions come amid growing political debate over proposals to establish additional provinces, including calls for a referendum to seek public opinion on the issue.

According to the reports, Zardari reiterated the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) opposition to dividing Sindh, maintaining that any changes to provincial boundaries must be made in accordance with constitutional requirements. Sharif reportedly endorsed the need to follow the constitutional process.

The official statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office did not specifically mention the discussion on new provinces or a referendum. It said the two leaders held detailed talks on the country's overall political, economic and security situation.

Sharif also briefed Zardari on his recent visit to Türkiye and participation in the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).

The two leaders discussed cooperation between the ruling coalition partners, continued political consultations and government initiatives aimed at public welfare. They reaffirmed their commitment to economic stability and national development.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah and National Assembly member Hamza Shehbaz also attended the meeting.

- Growing debate over new provinces

The question of creating new provinces has gained renewed attention following a proposal by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to hold a referendum to seek public opinion on the matter.

Several political figures have supported the idea of creating smaller administrative units, arguing that they could improve governance and public service delivery.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has also proposed dividing Pakistan into 12 provinces, citing administrative considerations.

However, the PPP has strongly opposed any move to divide Sindh, where the question of provincial boundaries carries considerable political and historical significance.

The issue has exposed differences within the governing coalition, particularly between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), over how any proposed restructuring should be pursued.

- Constitutional requirements

Under Article 239 of Pakistan's Constitution, a bill seeking to alter the boundaries of a province requires approval by at least two-thirds of the total membership of the provincial assembly concerned.

The proposed constitutional amendment must also secure a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

A referendum cannot replace these constitutional requirements or provide a way to bypass parliament and the relevant provincial assembly.

The reported understanding between Zardari and Sharif suggests that the coalition leadership wants any discussion of new provinces to remain within the constitutional framework.

However, no formal agreement on creating additional provinces or holding a referendum has been announced by the government.

The issue is likely to remain politically sensitive as the coalition parties weigh administrative proposals against regional concerns and their respective political positions.