Report on

Initial problems of
Pakistan

1. Karan Kumar ( 22k-4755 )

2. Ismail Ahmed ( 22k-4792 )
3. Mansoob Iqbal ( 22k-4747 )
4. Yahya Khan ( 22k-4690 )
5. Sibtain ( 22k-4788 )

29th November, 2022

Introduction

1. Background of Pakistan's formation

2. What were the problems it faced just after the partition?
3. How did those problems rise?
4. How much were we successful in countering those problems?
5. Long term effects of those problems on us.

SETTING :

The topic of this report is based on a long and comprehensive study of the history
of Pakistan. This report contains an interpretation of facts and opinions in order to
understand and convey the individual and common ideas on Initial condition of
Pakistan. The report proceeds with an analysis of the progress made by Pakistan
uptill present as compared to its past. The references given in this topic are either
from internet blogs or from books.

INTRODUCTION: Pakistan came into existence on 14th august 1947. Soon

after its establishment Pakistan faced number of problems. Most of the problems
of Pakistan were related with Pakistan dispute with India, such as the
accession of the princely states, canal Water dispute, refugees' problems and
distribution of armed and military assets. Infect most of these problems were
deliberately created by India itself so that Pakistan would not
maintain its independent status and soon merged with India. (Nehru told
General Sir Frank Messervy in 1945, “his deliberate plan would be to
allow Jinnah to have his
Pakistan, end gradually makes things so impossible  economically and 
otherwise for Pakistan that they have to come on their banded knees and
asked to be allowed back to India.

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1. Background:
The southern part of Asia remained under British rule for over two centuries
and later resulted in the formation of two separate major nations known as
Muslims and Hindus. Besides a historical event, this division had to decide the
future environment of the sub-continent.

After some time, the British government began to weaken and Political minds
started to rise in south Asia. Later, the British had nothing to do except divide
their Indian empire among local majorities and leave to their original lands. But
their departure from India did not make an end to the story, rather it started a
new era of history.

The formation of Pakistan was followed by a long series of events that are
worth studying. These events included a number of obstacles that the new born
country faced in its initial time after independence. These events were also a
lesson for the new Pakistani nation to plan for their future and develop
themselves accordingly.

2. What were the problems it faced just after Partition?

1. Canal Water dispute: It had its origin in Radcliff Award which drew
the boundary India and Pakistan in way that it cut across the rivers and
canal making India the upper beneficiary and Pakistan the lower
beneficiary, It also handed over the control over two important head works
over river Ravi (Madhupure Head works) and Sutlej (Ferozpure Head
works) to India. There was no reason of assigning these head works to
India, as these two Head works used to control the flow and distribution of water
in the area that were included in Pakistan, except to put the economic life of
Pakistan in danger. It was not only a theoretic possibility. India proved it by
stopping the flow of water in March 1948.As being an agricultural county where
rainfall is scanty and agriculture is greatly depending on irrigation by canal

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and rivers. Stopping the flow of water by India caused heavy economic loss for
Pakistan. Sometime even Pakistan forced to purchase water  from India.
Dispute was finally settled when an agreement called Indus Basin treaty.
The treaty was signed between Ayub Khan the president of Pakistan and
Nehru the Indian Prime Minister on September 19, 1962. According to that
agreement India was allocated the use of two Eastern Rivers namely Ravi
and Sutlej whereas three western Rivers Indus, Jehlum and Canab were
given to Pakistan. To overcome the shortage of water  World Bank, India and
other friendly countries provided Pakistan financial assistance to construct two
dams, five barrages and seven link canals.

(Source:https://www.academia.edu/30455197/
INITIAL_PROBLEMS_FACED_AFTER_THE_CREATION_OF_PAKISTAN? )

2. Constitutional Problem: At the time of establishment of Pakistan the

Government of India Act 1935 became the working constitution of Pakistan
with certain adoptions. The need of a constitution framed by the elected
representatives of the people was necessary for free people. So the first
constituent assembly was formed and was given the task to frame the
constitution for the country. But the constituent assembly failed to frame a
constitution even in eight years. Lack of a constitution created chances of
corrupt interference in democratic progress of Pakistan.

3. Lack of Military and Financial Assets:

  Military Assets:
It was announced on July 1; 1947 that Indian army would also be divided in
ratio 65 to 35 in India's favor. it was with reference of the communal
balance present in the
British Indian Army. Field Martial Auchinleck was appointed a
s   i n c h a r g e   o f   t h e distribution of military assets. Whatever Pakistan received
was nothing but scrap and out of order machines, broken weapons,
unserviceable artillery and aircraft. There were 16 ordnance factories and
all were located in India. Pakistan was given 60 million rupees towards its
share in the ordnance factories. Later an ordnance factory was established in Wah.

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Pakistan received six Amour divisions to India's fourteen, eight artillery divisions
to India's forty and eight infantry divisions to India's twenty-one. Pakistan also
received Staff College in Quetta and Service Corps College at Kakul, which
later became the Pakistan military Academy.

  Division of financial assets:

At the time of division there was cash balance of 4 billion rupees in
the Reserve Bank of India which was to be divided between India and
Pakistan in the ratio of 17 to India and 5 to Pakistan. Pakistan was to receive
750 million rupees, which was in initially delayed by the Indian Government. After
the protest of Pakistan, India agreed to pay 200million rupees. As the
war between India and Pakistan had  started on the issue of  Kashmir
India again stopped the rest of the amount by saying that Pakistan could use it
to buy arms. After the protest from Pakistan and the threat of hunger strike
by Gandhi, Nehru was forced to pay another 500 million rupees. However, the
remaining 50 million rupees are still not paid. The money was Pakistan's
rightful share. India deliberately withholds it because they hoped that Pakistan
would become bankrupt.
4.   Kashmir Dispute:
  At the time of partition Kashmir was a state with 77.11% Muslim population
it covered the84, 471 square miles and ruled by a Hindu ruler called
Hari Singh. Sharing 1/3 of its  boundary with Pakistan Kashmir is situated on
the north of Pakistan. Muslim majority of Kashmir wanted to join Pakistan
whereas Maharaja Hari Sing wanted to maintain the independent status
for his
state. He tried to suppress the large Muslim majority of Kashmir by
starting a brutal campaign to kill the Kashmiri Muslims. Kashmiri Muslim
resisted and started a struggle for their freedom. When situation became
out of control,
the Maharaja requested Indian government for the assistance.  Indian 
government promised to help on one condition, the Maharaja announced
the accession of Kashmir with India on October 26, 1947. Maharaja secretly
signed on the documents of succession and flew to England.
 

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 Indian army entered in Kashmir through Gurdaspur the only
Exit for India to Kashmir. It was a Muslim majority district situated at the
border of India it but unjustly assigned to India by the Radcliff Award.
It proved the fact that accession of Kashmir to India a pre planed conspiracy
between Congress and British government. As Pakistan's boundaries were in
danger, so Pakistan had to move its armies it resulted an undeclared war
between India and Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir India filled a complaint
in UNO describing Pakistan as an aggressor. Meanwhile the Kashmiri freedom
fighter with the help of volunteers from the tribal area of Pakistan were able to
liberate 1/3 of Kashmir from India. In January 1949, a cease-fire line was
arranged by UNO in Kashmir cutting across the valley dividing it between India
and Pakistan. UNO also passed a resolution asking both India and Pakistan to hold
plebiscite in the valley but after some time India refused to do so. Pakistan
tried its best to solve the problem and raised the issue of Kashmir on all
international forums from time to time. Pakistan kept the world community
under pressure by appealing to UNO. In 1957 the United Nations Security
Council reconfirmed that Kashmir is a disputed territory and final solution
should be settled under UN supervised plebiscite. Kashmir problem is still
unresolved. It is not only a source of tension between India and Pakistan but
also it is a threat to the peace and security of the entire region. As both the counties
are nuclear power now and they already had several wars on the issue

3. How did these problems rise?

1. Canal Water dispute:

This issue was a result of unjust boundary divisions. It occurred on April 1,

1948, when East Punjab in India discontinued the flow of cannel waters
to West Punjab. After partition, the Madhupur and Ferozepur head
works were included in Indian boundary while their rivers flowed into
Pakistan. So it was in India’s hand to decide when to make water supply
available to Pakistan and when not! This situation became a big issue
later on.

(source : https://historypak.com/water-dispute/)

2. Constitutional Problem:

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This issue raised after death of Quid-e-Azam and became a bottle-neck case
after assassination of Liaquat Ali khan. Although Jinnah was able to help the
Muslims secure their own homeland but, after his death, the leading body
became weak and even Liaquat Ali khan was unable to bring all Pakistanis on
the same page.

(source : https://www.glsrjournal.com/papers/dopcQujIvC.pdf)

3. Lack of Military and Financial Assets:

This issue was raised when the British government left India after creating a
plan of division of assets but left implementation in Congress leaders’ hands.
After their departure from India, the League - Congress rivalry took the shape
of this unjust division of Military and financial assets from the former British-
India’s treasury. Furthermore, this issue became severe at the time of Indo-Pak
war of 1948 when due to weak position, Pakistan lost control over Kashmir
territory.

4. Kashmir Dispute:

This issue was followed by the previously discussed issue of military assets.
Also the lack of activeness of newly founded Pakistan’s military let the Indian
army capture the Kashmir territory unjustly. Another factor was cheating done
by Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir who favored in joining with India against
the will of Muslim majority in Kashmir, who wanted to join the new Muslim
state i.e.: Pakistan.

(source : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/kashmir-conflict-how-did-it-start)

5. Refugee settlement:

The refugee crisis occurred due to migration of a million Muslims from India to
Pakistan due to formation of a separate homeland. This issue became even
worse following the weak financial situation of the country. So the roots of this

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 issue came from many other problems such as administrative weakness, worse
financial situation, initial war of 1948 etc.

6. Economic crisis: This issue started to rise exponentially just after the
partition. But it was not just an issue, rather it was a reflection of future affairs
of the two rival countries. Pakistan did not inherit any major industrial unit
from British rule while Indian areas had more industrial units prior to the
partition. That way Pakistan remained an agro-based economy. This left a vast
difference between the two countries' economic condition. So Pakistan faced
challenges in the shape of economic and other crises.

(source : https://www.economy.pk/economic-status-of-pakistan-from-1947-2020)

7. Leadership crisis: Pakistan was expected to have a strong lead according to

Jinnah’s master planning, but just after the Independence, death of Quid-e-
Azam made the lead weak and that strength in the leading body was never
restored. Later on, this issue became a crisis when Liaquat Ali Khan was
assassinated in 1951.

(source : https://www.nation.com.pk/16-Apr-2021/leadership-crisis)

4. How successful were the attempts to solve these problems?

1. Canal Water dispute:

This problem was resolved through the mediation of the World Bank. In 1960
an agreement was signed Known as the “Indus Water Treaty”. Under this
treaty Pakistan was given rights to the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and India
was given Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas. During the transitional period Pakistan was
expected to construct two dams, five barrages, one gated siphon and eight
link canals. The construction cost was met by Australia, Canada, USA, UK,
Germany, and New Zealand. India was also expected to pay some of the cost.
This treaty was very important for Pakistan. So we can say that this issue was
solved.

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 (source : https://historypak.com/water-dispute/)

2. Constitutional Problem:

The constituent assembly failed to frame a constitution even in eight years. But
in 1956, the first constitution was made and implemented successfully. So this
issue was no longer much worse. Also later in 1962 and 1973, more
improvements were made in the constitution and currently, we have our own
comprehensive constitution. This issue was also solved

(source : https://www.glsrjournal.com/papers/dopcQujIvC.pdf)

3. Lack of Military and Financial Assets:

This issue was not solved so far due to social and financial unrest in new born
Pakistan and India's pessimistic attitude. But later on at the time of the USSR
invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan got a lot of foreign aid in the shape of money,
food and military aid. This way Pakistan was successful in upgrading its
military power through US-made F-16s, STING-er missiles in the 1980s during
the Afghan-Soviet war. Furthermore, being a front-line country against
terrorism, Pakistan has been receiving a lot of Financial and Educational aid. So
it can be said that Pakistan was so far able to get this issue solved.

4. Kashmir Dispute:

Being a Muslim country, Pakistan has continuously insisted and struggled to

tell the world that the Muslim populated Kashmir must get their right of self-
determination but due to non-cooperation of India and lack of UN attention
towards this issue, Kashmir issue still remains unsolved.

(source : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/kashmir-conflict-how-did-it-start )

5. Refugee settlement:

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 Jinnah announced the “Quaid-e-Azam Relief Fund” in which the rich people
gave charity to help the poor. Satellite towns were also established to give
shelter to the homeless people. Also a number of times, Pakistan received
financial and basic aid from foreign countries such as the USA, Turkey, USSR,
UK and other western states. So this issue was also solved.

6. Economic crisis:

Jinnah sent delegations and asked for the funds from other foreign
countries and asked the government to set up the state bank of Pakistan
on 1 July 1948. In 1948 Jinnah’s Industrial Policy made it essential to
increase industrialization and to attract the local investors. For a long
time, Pakistan was much better in solving this issue, such as the time of
Ayub khan in the 1960s when Pakistan had its stable exchange rate. But
again afterwards, Pakistan went under gray lists and became an
unreliable country due to irregularity in trade and debt repayment. So
this issue is not solved.

(source : https://www.economy.pk/economic-status-of-pakistan-from-1947-
2020)

7. Leadership crisis:

Pakistan has been struggling from the start to improve its leadership. By that
time, Pakistan had gone through a number of ruling bodies, but still faced a lack
of expert and skilled leaders. So still now, this issue is unsolved.

(source : https://www.nation.com.pk/16-Apr-2021/leadership-crisis)

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5. Long Term Effects of Those Problems on us
1. Canal water dispute:

This treaty is considered a "well worked out" treaty as Through this treaty,
Pakistan overcame its problems of irrigation to a large extent.

The Indus water treaty provides the key water resources for the economy of
Pakistan - especially the breadbasket of Punjab province, which accounts for most
of the nation's agricultural production, and Sindh. It also supports many heavy
industries and provides the main supply of potable water in Pakistan. The extensive
connection of tributaries with the Indus has helped expand water resources to the
Peshawar valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Extensive dam and irrigation projects provide the basis for Pakistan's large crop
production, such as cotton, sugarcane, and rice. The dams also generate
electricity for heavy industries and urban centers.

2. Constitutional Problem:

Although the making of the constitution took a lot more time in the early stages of
independence and the implementation of the law was not perfect at that time, But
Now in current time, it is no longer an issue, though there are still problems with
the implementation of laws sometimes but the thing is that Pakistan at least has its
constitution cause of which people of Pakistan are united and follow the same set
of rules in every state if there was no constitution every state in Pakistan would
have its own sets of rule. So because of the constitution, we have a stable society in
Pakistan.

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3. Lack of Military and Financial Assets:

Receiving aid from the USA in terms of the Defense Assistance Agreement or at
the time of the USSR invasion of Afghanistan or during the afghan-soviet war,
Pakistan was always benefited from aid given by the USA which has considerably
helped Pakistan enhance its defense capability and increase its military power,
cause of which Pakistan now has his independent defense system and is producing
its own weapons, aircraft and equipment cause of which we are becoming more
and more independent from the military side.

( source: https://pakistanarmy.gov.pk/journey-scratch-nuclear-power.php )

4. Kashmir Dispute:

Due to the failure of a solution to the Kashmir issue, Pakistan is still wasting its
military resources and manpower in order to secure our northern borders.
Otherwise much of our country’s upper area will become vulnerable to Indian
rivalry. Even today, we face military clashes every new day in that disputed area.
As far as future plans are concerned, we can work for some solutions if we expand
our youth’s mental approach by letting them practice real life leadership challenges
for example MUNs and other debate events.

5. Refugee settlement:

Although we have not improved much, we are much better than in the past. All
refugees at the time of independence have now settled at different locations but
some of the refugees are not living a well-settled life but we are much better than
in the past. As if the refugee problem currently existed, Pakistan would have been
in a lot worse situation than now. Inflation would have been at the top peak, so this
is an advantage as we are much better than before.

6. Economic crisis:

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To This day Pakistan still faces problems because of the economic crisis that was
left unresolved which led to low levels of foreign investment and
underdevelopment because of which our growth rate is less than other developing
countries, and our inflation rate is increasing. We consume more and save less, we
have become more import-oriented and our dollar rate is increasing day by day.

Prospects/Solutions to Improve the Economy:

● We should be self-dependent and should not expect any foreign help and
should build our own industries.
● by building up human capital, knowledge and a skill-based economy.
● by using a young labor force and creating opportunities for them. If we tool
these young men and women properly, we increase the Female/Male labor
force participation, and give them skills and knowledge, they can become
the labor force for the rest of the world. This will give a big boost to
Pakistan's own economy.

(source:https://iba.edu.pk/News/speechesarticles_drishrat/Pakistan_Economy_Challenges_Prospects.pdf )

7. Leadership crisis:

The poor performance of elected leaders and assemblies in federal and provinces
makes democracy more complex. Failure of democracy, the leadership crisis, after
the death of Jinnah and Liaquat Ali khan, and the failure of the Pakistan Muslim
League to become a national party, created problems for the country to this day.
The country went into chaos at the hand of bureaucracy and insincere leaders.
Pakistan lacked experienced leaders which were sincere to the country, many of
them were from feudal lords or nawabs families and didn't have any political
knowledge which led to the downfall of Pakistan and created distrust among
people for the government.

Prospects/Solutions to Improve:

● We have to give the youth education and skills to become optimistic leaders
of future generations.

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● We must increase the creative mindsets among our youth to shape a brighter
and prosperous future.

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