Hazara’s Quest for Autonomy: Unpacking the Demand for a Separate Province

This study highlights the Hazara community's long-standing perceptions of political neglect, underrepresentation, and unfair resource distribution as the reasons behind their demand for their province in Pakistan. Hazaras, mainly residing in the Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, believe that the provincial government overlooks their unique cultural identity and administrative needs based in Peshawar. The community has often voiced concerns about inadequate development, limited access to jobs, and poor infrastructure in their areas. Movements like the Hazara province movement argue that creating a new province would allow for better governance, fairer resource allocation, and a stronger voice for the people of Hazara. The demand is not just about ethnicity or language but about empowerment, Justice, and a desire for equal participation in the country’s political and economic life.