Claim: PML-N and PTI have agreed on the creation of new provinces in Pakistan.
Fact: The image accompanying the post is misleading. PML-N and PTI representatives supported the idea of creating new provinces during a television discussion, but both expressed their own views rather than announcing a party position. Their remarks do not signal a formal or informal agreement between PML-N and PTI.
On 5 August 2026, The Current shared a Facebook post claiming that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had “reached an agreement on the creation of new provinces,” with leaders from both parties voicing support for the proposal during a television appearance.
While the latter half of the caption mentions that leaders from both parties voiced their support on a television show, the graphic accompanying the post is misleading, and gives the impression that both parties have reached an agreement. It only stated, “PML-N, PTI agree on creation of new provinces.”
Screenshot of The Current’s Facebook post claiming PML-N and PTI had agreed to create new provinces in Pakistan.
Debate over new provinces
The claim circulated after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi addressed the Pakistan Economic Summit on 30 July 2026.
Naqvi said Pakistan’s existing governance system had “collapsed” and called for political consensus on creating new administrative units or provinces. He urged political parties to discuss the proposal and reach consensus, according to Dawn.
His remarks revived an existing political debate over the creation of new provinces, particularly South Punjab, with political parties and leaders publicly responding to the proposal in the following days.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reviewed the relevant segment of Geo News’ Capital Talk, in which Federal Minister for Defence Production Mohammad Raza Hayat Harraj, a PML-N parliamentarian, and PTI Chief Whip Malik Amir Dogar discussed the creation of new provinces. When the host Hamid Mir asked Harraj whether new provinces or administrative units should be created, Harraj said, “Yeh mera jo is maamlay mein view hai. Main aaj se nahi, main toh taqreeban kayi saalon se iska haami hoon.”
[Translation: “This is my view on the matter. I have supported this for several years.”]
Harraj also said he found nothing objectionable in Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s proposal for political parties to develop consensus on creating new provinces or administrative units.
Dogar also supported creating new provinces, particularly South Punjab. Referring to Harraj’s remarks, he said, “Aaj agar wafaqi wazir PML-N bhi meray bhai keh rahay hain ke janubi Punjab ko suba banna chahiye toh yeh tay ho gaya ke sab se pehlay Insha Allah janubi Punjab hi suba banay ga.”
[Translation: “If a PML-N federal minister is also saying that South Punjab should become a province, then it has been decided that, God willing, South Punjab will be the first province to be created.”]
Dogar further said he agreed with Naqvi that new provinces should be created, but argued that they should be formed on the basis of population and through political consensus.
The National Assembly website identifies Harraj as a PML-N member and Dogar as the opposition chief whip. Their remarks, therefore, show that representatives from both parties supported the creation of new provinces during the television discussion, but do not establish an agreement between PML-N and PTI, as both politicians were expressing their own views.
Geo News also published excerpts from the discussion in a separate clip, titled “PML-N and PTI agree on new provinces.” However, the discussion itself did not establish that PML-N and PTI had reached a formal agreement as political parties. Harraj explicitly described his support as his own view, while Dogar inferred broader political agreement from Harraj’s remarks. Neither politician announced negotiations between the parties, a joint declaration, a party resolution, or an agreement authorised by the leadership of both parties.
On 4 August, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said PML-N had not held any meeting to discuss creating new provinces and that the issue was not under consideration, according to Dunya News. Sanaullah’s remarks indicate that Harraj’s comments do not reflect a formally adopted PML-N position or an agreement with PTI.
On 6 August, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also supported the creation of new provinces. However, he said the proposal required broad political consensus and the constitutionally required two-thirds majorities. He did not announce that PTI had reached an agreement with PML-N, according to Geo News. The same article added thatSanaullah described Naqvi’s remarks as his personal opinion and said parliament should debate the issue before any decision was taken. He added that political parties would ultimately have to make the final decision.
Article 239 of the Constitution of Pakistan requires a constitutional amendment to secure at least two-thirds of the total membership of both Houses of parliament. An amendment altering a province’s boundaries must also receive at least two-thirds of the total membership of the affected provincial assembly. These constitutional requirements concern the process for creating or altering a province. They do not determine whether political parties have reached an agreement.
Thus, the evidence shows that Harraj and Dogar agreed on the creation of new provinces during an informal television discussion.They expressed their opinions as their own and were not speaking on behalf of the political parties they belong to. Therefore, their remarks do not signal any formal or informal agreement between PML-N and PTI.
Virality
Soch Fact Check found at least 19 posts on Facebook and Instagram carrying versions of the claim.
Collectively, the posts had approximately 5,800 reactions and likes, and more than 500 comments until 7 August 2026.
The Facebook posts also accumulated at least 111 shares, while two Instagram posts had at least 50 reposts.
Conclusion: The post is misleading because it misrepresents a television show discussion as an official party-level agreement. PML-N and PTI representatives agreed on the creation of new provinces during an episode of Geo News’ Capital Talk. However, their remarks do not amount to a formal or informal agreement between the parties as they were expressing their own opinions on the show.