Arshad Ali

Lecturer in Pakistan Studies ( GPGC Charsadda)

INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN:

INTRODUCTION:

The sharp sword of a long struggle of Indian Muslims under the dynamic leadership of Quaid E
Azam at last cut the Indian Sub- continent into two pieces and Pakistan emerged as a sovereign
independent Muslim state on the scene of the world on August 14,1947. Immediately after
independence, Pakistan had to deal with numerous problems. Because the congress did not
accept the partition of India and emergence of Pakistan from heart. They always looked for
opportunities to create problems for the newly born state of Pakistan. Due to the conspiracies of
congress leaders, Pakistan had to face the great difficulties which are given below.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEM:

The immediate task before the nation, after independence was to set up a workable
administrative and governmental machinery to run the affairs of the state. Quaid Azam became
the first Governor General of Pakistan. He formed his cabinet with Liaqat Ali Khan as Prime
Minister. Karachi was chosen as first capital of Pakistan. The biggest administrative problem
facing Pakistan was the shortage of competent and experienced personnel in the central and
provincial governments.

There were only 101 Muslims out 1157 officers in the Indian civil service and the Indian police
servicer. out of whom 95 opted for Pakistan. In most other services, the number of those who
opted for Pakistan was small, especially in the high cadres. The deficiency was met by retaining
or hiring, British officers on contract. Most of the opted were stationed in the Indian areas. Their
transfer to Pakistan presented another problem. On 8 august 1947, when a train carrying
personnel of the Pakistan government from Delhi to Karachi derailed near Bhatinda due to a
bomb explosion, killing four and injuring 20 persons, transportation by train was disconnected.
The government then hired twenty sex BOAC planes to fly its employees from Delhi to Karachi.
The” Operation Pakistan”, as it was called, that began on 4 September, transferred some 7000
employees. More than 17,000 employees and their families came by sea via Bombay. This
process of transfer continued till December 1947.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS:

At the time of independence of India and Pakistan, there was a cash balance of Rs. 4 billion.
Pakistan was to get 750 million. The first installment of Rs. 200 million was paid. The rest of the
amount was stopped on the advice of Sardar Patel who threatened that amount shall not be paid
to Pakistan on the pretext that Pakistan might use these funds in the war in Kashmir. Finally, on
Gandhi’s insistence another installment of 500 million paid to Pakistan and the remaining
amount of 50 million has not been paid until now.

Pakistan’s economic survival in the first year was no less than a miracle. It inherited almost an
empty treasury. The available finances were barely sufficient for paying one month’s salaries to
its employees. It needed funds not only for routine expanses but for refugee’s rehabilitation as
well and the armed forces. It tried to seek assistance from the common wealth countries, and the
USA, but without any success. Fortunately, a financial crisis was averted by a timely loan of Rs
200 million from the Hyderabad state in October. The situation began improve rapidly from
December. Pakistan’s first budget was surplus. In July, the newly established state bank of
Pakistan took over the work of handling currency from the reserve bank of India.

DIVISION OF ASSETS:

Basically, agriculture, its areas were industrially backward with practically no industry even for
its own raw material. For example, 14 out of 394 textile mills and none of 106 jute mills were in
Pakistan. Of the 14677 registered factories, Pakistan inherited only 1414 out of which majority
were small scale establishments. Not only this, all banking, insurance and credit facilities in the
Pakistan areas were in non-Muslim hands. Thus, Pakistan was not a rich country. On the top of it
all, every device was used to paralyzed its economy. The coming of refugees into Pakistan and
the exodus of Hindus, who had dominated the economy and who took with them merchandise ad
machine parts, was a calculated design to harm the new state. Pakistan also did not get a fair
share of the assets partly because of their location in the Indian areas. In many a case, it had to
accept whatever was offered and then it suffered losses in the transfer of even these limited
assets.
DIVISION OF ARMED FORCES:

Pakistan needed armed forces and military equipment after getting independence and therefore,
demanded the immediate division of military assets and personnel out of its located share,
Pakistan received only 23,225 out of 160,000 tons of ordnance stores, 74 out of 1461 soft
vehicles, none out of 294 armored vehicles, which included tanks, none out of 40,000 to 60,000
tons of ammunition and 1128 tons out of 172,667 tons of engineering stores including
machinery. Pakistan received only damaged or unserviceable items. therefore, it had to turn to
other sources of arms. Initially, no country was willing to give arms on credit. when Pakistan
could pay, even then few were prepared to sell it arms in view of the Kashmir conflict. It did
manage to purchase some arms, which consumed almost 70 percent of its budget.

REFUGEES AND THEIR REHABILITATIOIN:

The partition of India was accompanied by widespread riots throughout the subcontinent. The
riots were started by both the militant Hindu organization and Muslims. There was wide spread
murder, rape and arson on both sides. Partition had resulted in the largest human migration in
recorded history. According to Pakistani estimates, approximately 65,00000 Muslims reached
Pakistan from India; 5200,000 came from east Punjab, including the princely states where rioting
was severe. About one million Muslims lost their lives. 50,000 Muslims and 10,000 non-Muslim
women were abducted out of which 8,000 Muslims and 6000 non-Muslim women recovered.
The rehabilitation of these refugees to which were soon added more than 400000 refugees from
the state of Jammu and Kashmir, was a job of colossal dimension. According to Richard
Symonds writing in the 1950,” The population of Pakistan increased by about 10,00000
people”. The refugees confronted many problems like shelter, food and clothes. In the leadership
of General Alam this problem was solved at that time and different camps were made.

DISPUTES WITH INDIA:

CANAL WATER DISPUTE.:

The water dispute had it origin in the partition of Punjab. The major rivers flow from Kashmir
and some canal heads located in India. In 1948, India cut off water, to some canal that was
serious threat to agriculture in West Pakistan. The Indian plans to build water storage on the
rivers that are vital for Pakistan’s economy worsened the situation. It also showed the traditional
anti- Muslim attitude. The world bank settled the problem in September 1960, (Indus Water
Treaty). According to this treaty the water of three rivers, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej would given to
India, while the water of the river Chenab Jhelum and Indus river would have given to Pakistan.

ACCCESSION OF STATES OF INTEGRATION OF PRINCELY STATES:

There were 565 princely states in India on the verge of the partition of India. About 500 states
had joined India before august 15 because of the motivation by VP Menon and Mountbatten. The
Hindu- British conspiracy blocked states to join Pakistan.

JUNGADH:

It was a small state with access to sea having about 7 lakh population and 3377-mile area. The
ruler was Muslim while most its population was Hindus. The ruler decided to accede to Pakistan
and Pakistan also accepted the accession. In November 1947, the India troops entered the state
and took its control the referendum favored India.

HYDERABAD:

It was geographically big and financially a rich state. Its ruler was Muslim and majority
population was Hindu. It was surrounded by India from all sides. The Nizam wanted to stay
independent. Mountbatten discouraged him and signed Stand Still Agreement, but India built
pressure on the Nazim by sending its troops in September 1948, claiming that serious law and
order situation had developed. The state was integrated in India.

KASHMIR:

The most important state was Kashmir naturally connected with Pakistan it ruler was Hindu
while population was Muslim. The Hindu population inclined towards Pakistan but the Hindu
ruler declared to join India. The Kashmir, people revolted against the ruler in poonch area and
soon it became widespread. The rule sought Indian support, India demanded accession on
October 27, 1949, Indian troops in Srinagar. The people continued their struggle for
independence and promised to finally settle the matter regarding the people under the UN
resolutions.

TRADE PROBLEMS AND ECONOMY:

India developed its currency in 1949 but Pakistan refused to do so. It stopped trade that adversely
affected Pakistan’s economy as it depended on trade from India. Pakistan had inherited a weak
economy and poor industrial base. The beginning years of Pakistan were troubled and difficult
due to India’s non-helpful policy and the war in Kashmir. It had profound impact on Pakistan’s
worldviews and its relations with India. Pakistan strived for its survival and security. Many
Indians and the British predicted the collapse of Pakistan. They believed very soon the Muslims
would realize their blunder. They would be forced by the circumstances to go back to join India.
But Pakistan, by the grace of Almighty Allah, could meet the challenges even with its problems.

MISCELLANEOUS PROBLEMS:

Of the many problems, the issue of provincialism was the most alarming issue of the stability of
Pakistan. A sense of insecurity and deprivation developed amongst the people of east Pakistan,
because the capital was situated in wet Pakistan. They always felt alienated which gave rise to
the feelings of separation and provincialism.

Quaid E Azam warned the people about this grave tendency of provincialism. He addressed the
nation and said;

“In unity lies strength, so long as we are united, we emerge victorious and strong. If we are
not united, we shall become weak and disgraced. We are all Pakistanis none of us is a
Punjabi, Sindhi, Baluch, Pathan or Bengali”

The Quaid-e- Azam made personnel turs of various provinces to attend to the problems and
reminded them their responsibilities, as member of a free and independent nation.

CSS EXAMINATION

10-10-2012 Hostel,9,Room,no.42,University of Peshawar