SARGODHA(National times)- Dunya Media Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood has said that the goal is to create a better Pakistan and that raising voices for systemic change is essential. He emphasized that forming smaller provinces would reduce administrative costs and ensure that resources reach the people. Addressing an awareness seminar titled \u201cPakistan 2030: Challenges, Opportunities, and New Pathways\u201d organized by the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP), Mian Amer Mahmood said that nations are created to ensure the welfare of their people.\u201cEven countries with populations of over a billion have multiple administrative units and strong local governments that solve people\u2019s issues at their doorstep,\u201d he noted. He highlighted that Pakistan, with a population of 250 million, has only four provinces \u2014 Punjab being larger than the other three combined, while Balochistan, vast in area, still faces deprivation. He added that in 80 years, only five cities in Pakistan have seen real development.Mian Amer Mahmood stated that weak institutions foster corruption. \u201cPunjab alone has 130 million people but just one chief minister. If Punjab were a country, it would be among the world\u2019s top seven in population,\u201d he said, adding that strong governance systems are key to development and welfare. He compared Pakistan with India, which started with nine states at independence and now has 37 administrative units, while Pakistan still operates with only four. He said his think tank proposes making each division a province, which would create 33 provinces. \u201cSome argue that more provinces mean higher expenses, but in reality, smaller provinces lower administrative costs and improve service delivery,\u201d he said. Highlighting Pakistan\u2019s poor global rankings, he said, \u201cWe rank 129 out of 142 countries in the rule of law index and 109 out of 129 on the Global Hunger Index.\u201d He lamented that 44% of Pakistani children suffer from stunted growth \u2014 a major obstacle to the nation\u2019s future. He stressed that Pakistan must reform its system now, as over 25 million children remain out of school. \u201cIn 15 years, we will need educated workers; if we don\u2019t act now, we\u2019ll waste the next 20 years too,\u201d he warned. Mian Amer Mahmood said Pakistan is not at war, yet progress remains stalled. \u201cMost major countries have more than 30 provinces, while we sit idle with just four. The world is moving toward smaller, efficient administrative units,\u201d he added. He also pointed out the inefficiency of public education, noting that the government spends Rs. 4,400 per child monthly but still fails to manage 50,000 schools effectively. Addressing the youth, he said, \u201cMiddle-class progress depends on merit. Leadership always emerges from the middle class \u2014 and from smaller provinces.\u201d Citing javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem\u2019s success, he said, \u201cArshad first defeated the system, then won gold. We must now bring merit and real leadership forward.\u201d He said that despite capable leaders emerging in the past 80 years, the existing system prevented meaningful progress. \u201cWe\u2019ve never had truly organic leadership \u2014 and it\u2019s time to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chaudhry Abdul Rehman lauds Mian Amer Mahmood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chairman of APPSUP, Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, lauded Mian Amer Mahmood as a patriot who has greatly contributed to the nation by establishing over 400 colleges and three major universities. He said, \u201cNations that remember their heroes live forever. It\u2019s our duty to guide the youth on the right path.\u201d He questioned why Pakistan ranks last in so many sectors, stressing the need to fix the system and recognize real heroes. \u201cWith over 60% of our population being youth, they are our greatest strength,\u201d he said, expressing hope that \u201cone day, Sargodha will also become a province.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SARGODHA(National times)- Dunya Media Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood has said that the goal is to create a better Pakistan and that raising voices for systemic change is essential. He emphasized that forming smaller provinces would reduce administrative costs and ensure that resources reach the people. Addressing an awareness seminar titled \u201cPakistan 2030: Challenges, Opportunities, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":113512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n