ISLAMABAD - Parliamentary Commission for creation of new provinces in Punjab has lapsed its second deadline for the completion of its report, which led the chairman of the commission to approach the NA Speaker for another extension.

“The Commission will request to extend deadline for the compilation of the report...The commission will hold hearings on daily basis from January 19 and will meet the deadline,” said the commission head Farhatullah Babar while talking to media after the meeting. The commission had been formed on August 16 last by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza in line with the direction of President Asif Ali Zardari after passage of unanimous resolutions by National Assembly (NA) and Punjab Assembly for creation of Southern Punjab Province and revival of provincial status of Bahawalpur.
Without sharing the deadline, Farhatullah Babar said that they entered next phase and will formulate recommendations for the purpose. The commission has completed the process of public hearings and had taken input form the experts, he informed.
The commission in its previous meetings had taken opinions from various experts and stakeholders. A large number of experts have not given nod for restoring Bhawalpur as a new province.
The experts opined that in case the Commission would come up with the proposal for creation of only one province instead of two provinces as demanded by the people of the area, the matter would again land in controversy and definitely the chances of its getting the affirmative nod of Punjab Assembly with two-thirds majority becomes bleak for creating the province.