New provinces vital for Pakistan's existence: MQM chief

Leader of Pakistan's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party Altaf Hussain Wednesday pressed for creation of new provinces in the country and warned that Pakistan would be wiped out from the global map if new administrative borders were not drawn, a media report said.

Addressing his supporters during his birthday function at the MQM headquarters in Karachi, the self-exiled leader underscored the need for new provinces, saying that Pakistan is the only country to have a small number of provinces despite its large population, Dawn online reported.

The MQM chief also demanded that local bodies elections be held.

Hussain, who is now based in London, urged Sindhis and Mohajirs (Urdu speaking immigrants from other parts of South Asia) to avoid confrontation and spread the message of love and peace.

At present, there are four administrative provinces in Pakistan, namely Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.

The country also has two administrative territories that include Islamabad Capital Territory and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.