Five Dimensions to Compare Pakistan's Provinces

A structured framework for comparing Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan:

1. Geography: Location (coastal/inland/border), area, topography (mountains/plains/desert), water access (Indus, tributaries, coast).
2. Population: Size, density, growth; ethnic/linguistic/religious composition; urbanization rate & major cities.
3. Economy: GDP/GSP, growth trajectory; dominant sectors (agri, industry, services, minerals); infrastructure quality (transport, energy, digital).
4. Human Development: Literacy, enrollment, learning outcomes; health access (hospitals, doctors/1000, MMR/IMR); HDI & MPI rankings.
5. Governance & Administration: Provincial assembly/executive structure; political party dynamics; district/tehsil count; fiscal federalism (NFC award share, own-revenue capacity).

Apply this matrix to reveal why Punjab dominates demographically/economically, why Balochistan lags in HDI despite mineral wealth, and how KP's merger of FATA reshapes its governance calculus.