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The One Unit scheme in Pakistan was introduced in which year?
A. 1947
B. 1955
C. 1962
D. 1970
Correct Answer Is Option = 1955
Notes / Explanation
The One Unit scheme in Pakistan was introduced in 1955 and was one of the most significant administrative reorganisations in the early history of the country. At the time of independence, Pakistan consisted of two geographically separated wings that were divided by a vast stretch of foreign territory lying between them. The eastern wing contained a single large province, while the western wing was made up of several provinces and princely states along with various smaller administrative units. This arrangement created a number of serious difficulties. The population of the eastern wing was larger than that of the entire western wing, which raised complicated questions about representation and the balance of power between the two parts of the country. The western wing, meanwhile, was fragmented into many separate units, each with its own administration, which made coordinated governance and planning more difficult. To address these problems, the leadership decided to merge all the provinces and units of the western wing into a single administrative province. Under the One Unit scheme, the western wing became one province, and the country was effectively organised into two large units of broadly comparable status, which the government hoped would simplify administration and create a sense of equality between the two wings. The scheme was justified on the grounds that it would reduce provincial rivalries, promote national unity, streamline administration and make economic planning more efficient. In practice, however, the One Unit scheme generated considerable controversy and resentment, particularly among the smaller provinces of the western wing, which felt that their distinct identities, languages and interests were being suppressed and absorbed into a single dominant structure. Over time, the demand for the restoration of the original provinces grew stronger, and the scheme came to be seen by many as a source of grievance rather than unity. The One Unit arrangement was eventually dissolved and the provinces of the western wing were restored to their separate status. For PPSC and other competitive examinations, the points most worth remembering are that the One Unit scheme was introduced in 1955, that it merged the provinces of the western wing into a single province, that its stated aim was to balance the two wings and simplify administration, and that it later became a source of provincial discontent before being dissolved.