Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has welcomed the ongoing debate on creating new provinces in Pakistan, saying it is a step in the right direction.

Speaking to Dunya News, the minister said: “The whole country is talking about new provinces, and that is a good thing. The world keeps making new provinces or states. If we do the same, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

On the issue of floods, Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan will continue to face the threat every year if proper steps are not taken.

He pointed out that building large dams would take at least seven years, while smaller dams could be built more quickly and cover more areas.

The minister stressed the need for smart water storage, saying, “Around the world, water storage is built to manage rainwater. We should construct dams in rain-fed areas, and Sialkot is a good example of where they should be built.”

By putting the ball in the court of policymakers, Khawaja Asif underlined that quick and practical measures are the only way forward to tackle floods and improve water management.