Lawmakers, activists back demand for Seraiki province.

KARACHI -- Politicians and lawmakers have said a separate Seraiki province should be created on the basis of language, culture, civilisation and identity to make Pakistan a strong and balanced federation.

'The burning issue of Kalabagh dam, which has not materialised due to trust deficit between Punjab and the other three provinces, can also be easily resolved if Mianwali district is included in the new Seraiki province,' said Afzal Khan Dhandla, a member of the National Assembly from Bhakkar district, at a seminar on the creation of 'Seraiki province' at a hotel on Saturday.

A number of senators and MNAs spoke at the seminar organised by the Servants of Seraiki Society and Seraiki Awami Sangat Pakistan.

Mr Dhandla, belonging to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, said Bhakkar District had not been included in the proposed South Punjab or Seraiki province despite the fact that it was a district with a majority of Seraiki speakers.

He said Bhakkar district was a most neglected region in Punjab after Rajanpur; recommending that Bhakkar and Mianwali districts be included in the new province.

Inclusion of Mianwali district in new province proposed to resolve Kalabagh dam issue

He said the Seraiki region had badly been neglected in the past and it was high time to end the sense of deprivation in its people by creating a separate province.

Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said there was no harm in creating new provinces on administrative and identity grounds in Pakistan. He said the issue of Seraiki province was pertinent and a new province should be created to provide relief to its people.

'My party will support Seraiki province in the senate and the National Assembly,' he said, adding that the creation of a new province would strengthen the federation of Pakistan.

MNA Agha Rafiullah of Pakistan People Party said a Seraiki province was mandatory for a strong and balanced federation. He said the PPP supported the Seraiki province in the past and continued to do so in...