Bill introduced in Pakistan parliament to form ‘West Punjab’ province

A constitutional amendment bill proposing the creation of a new province in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, was introduced in parliament on Tuesday in a move that could reshape the country’s federal structure.

The move aims to address administrative challenges arising from Punjab’s rapidly growing population by carving out a new province named “West Punjab,” alongside wide-ranging changes to provincial boundaries and parliamentary representation.

The Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced during the National Assembly session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah. The bill was presented by opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Riaz Hussain Fatyana during private proceedings.

The proposed amendment seeks to amend Articles 1, 51, 59, 106, 154, 175A, 198, and 218 of the Constitution. Central to the bill is the creation of a new province called “West Punjab,” formed by delimiting the existing province of Punjab.

The bill stresses that due to Punjab’s rapidly increasing population and the growing administrative difficulties in managing its vast territory, the establishment of a separate province is an urgent necessity.

Proposed boundaries of West Punjab

This new province would include Faisalabad Division and Sahiwal Division, regions known for their agricultural productivity, industrial centers and key institutions like Punjab’s second largest forest and a major agricultural university.

These assets, the bill argues, provide West Punjab with the capacity to sustain itself as an independent province.

Furthermore, the bill proposes significant changes in the allocation of seats across Pakistan’s provinces and the federal capital in both provincial and national legislatures.

Proposed changes in seats allocation.

The bill sets Punjab’s National Assembly seats at 114 general and 24 women’s seats, totaling 138. Sindh would have 61 general and 14 women’s seats (75 total), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 45 general and 10 women’s seats (55 total), and Balochistan 16 general and 4 women’s seats (20 total). The federal capital would have 3 general seats and no women’s seats.

For the new West Punjab province, the bill assigns 27 general and 8 women’s seats. In total, the National Assembly would have 266 general and 60 women’s seats, making 326 seats overall.

The National Assembly currently has 342 seats, with Punjab holding a total of 183 seats - 48 general and 35 reserved for women.

The current composition of the National Assembly.

Following its introduction, the speaker of the National Assembly has referred the bill to the relevant standing committee for detailed examination.