Proposal to Rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gains Attention, New Suggested Names Revealed

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar announced that the government is actively discussing proposals to increase Balochistan’s parliamentary seats and rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as “Pukhtunkhwa.” Speaking to the media, he stated that work on most clauses of the constitutional amendment bill has been completed, though deliberations continue on some of the recently suggested proposals.

The minister confirmed that suggestions put forward by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) are being carefully considered. A joint parliamentary session was temporarily adjourned to allow political parties to consult with their leadership before further discussions.

Azam Nazeer Tarar revealed that, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s instructions, the proposal to grant immunity to the Prime Minister has been withdrawn. Discussions have also focused on increasing Balochistan’s representation in the National Assembly and officially renaming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as “Pukhtunkhwa.”

He added that MQM’s proposal to grant full autonomy to local governments was discussed in detail, along with the Punjab Assembly’s resolution regarding local governance. The minister emphasized that both issues—empowering local governments and reviewing the Punjab Assembly’s resolution—will require additional time for thorough review and consultation before any final decision is made.