One Unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One-Unit was the title of a scheme launched by the federal government of Pakistan to merge the four provinces of West Pakistan into one homogenous unit, as a counterbalance against the numerical domination of the ethnic Bengalis of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The One Unit policy was announced by Prime Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali on 22nd November, 1954.
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[edit] History
The province of West Pakistan was created in 14th October 1955 by the merger of the provinces, states and Tribal Areas of the western wing. The province was composed of twelve divisions and the provincial capital was established at Lahore. The province of East Bengal (now Bangladesh) was renamed East Pakistan with the provincial capital at Dhaka. The federal government moved the country's capital in 1959 from Karachi to Rawalpindi (serving as provisional capital until Islamabad was finished), whilst the federal legislature moved to Dhaka.
West Pakistan formed a seemingly homogeneous block but with marked linguistic and ethnic distinctions and the One Unit policy was regarded as administrative reform which would reduce expenditure and eliminate provincial prejudices. However, with the military coup of 1958, trouble loomed for the province when the office of Chief Minister was abolished and the President took over executive powers for West Pakistan. The province of West Pakistan was dissolved in July 1970 by President General Yahya Khan.
[edit] Criticisms
The imposition of one was One Unit was considered an act of repression by many representatives of the three provinces outside Punjab in West Pakistan. The actual author of the plan is alleged to be General and later President Ayub Khan.
