Initial Problems Of Pakistan

Introduction
1.Geographical Problems
2.Political Problems
3.Economic Problems
4.Social Problems
5.Division of Assets
6.Canal Water Dispute
7.Refugees
8.Princely states
 Introduction

• Pakistan came into existence on 14th august 1947. Soon after its establishment Pakistan
faced number of problems.
• Most of the problems were related with Pakistan’s dispute with India and deliberately
created by India itself so that Pakistan would not maintain its independent status and
soon merge with India.
• Nehru told General Sir Frank Messervy in 1945, ”my deliberate plan would be to allow
Jinnah to have his Pakistan, and gradually make 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”
 GEOGRAPHICAL PROBLEMS

• No natural borders – mountains, rivers, sea.

• Country split into distinct parts with Indian territory in between.

• People had very little in common with each other.

 POLITICAL PROBLEMS

• Inexperinced polititcians

• No political infrastructure

• Constituent Assembly comprised of wealthy landowners

• West and East Pakistan seperated by Indian land, difficult to govern as one
country
 POLITICAL PROBLEMS – CONT.

• Officials from West Pakistan while majoritty population lived in East Pakistan

• Quaid e Azam was ill, little time to set up country

• Governor General was supposed to be a cermonial position, but with QA at

the helm became more important than PM

• No constitution, following the Government of India Act 1935.

 ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

• Underdeveloped states- little industry

• Most of Pakistan was on the borders of the sub contitnent and didn’t
exeprience industrializtion

• Only 1 of top 57 industriers belonged to Muslims

• No steelworks

• Only 8 developed towns

 ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

• Agro based economy, yet didn’t generate enough surplus to go into

industrilization

• Only exception - Jute in East Pakistan comprised of 70 % of world’s export,

major source of foreign exchange

• BUT- Pakistan didn’t have a single jute mill!!

 SOCIAL PROBLEMS

• 5 different nations

• Different languages, traditions,lifestyle

• Baluchistan and Bengal werent even sure they wanted to be part of Pakistan

• National language – Urdu, very few people spoke

• Uniting people with all the differences was a challenge.

 DIVISION OF ASSESTS

• Division ratio 17:5 (based on popultion and size)

• June 47 agreement – Pak will be paid Rs 750m (4 billion were in reserve bank)
– 200mil were paid
• India refused to pay rest, because war broke out in Kashmir (1948)
• Indian condition : rest of be paid if Pakistan pulls out of Kashmir
• Intervention and pressure from Ghandi led to payment of Rs 500mil
 DIVISION OF ASSESTS – ARMED FORCES

• 36 % to Pakistan with officers and soliders having the freedom to chose the
country
• Pak army : 150,000 men needed 4000 officers, had only 2500 trained ones, as
British had preferred Hindus
 DIVISION OF ASSESTS – CONT.

• Factories:
• India had 16 ordinance factories, refused to give any to Pakistan
• Eventually agreed to pay 60mil in lieu
• Supplies / Equipment:
• Didn’t arrive in time
• Those that did, were in bad condition – obselete , depleted ,worn, old.
 CANAL WATER DISPUTE
• Agro based economy, dry and hot climate of Punjab
• Had to rely on irrigation from canals whch draws water from Indus, Jhelum
and Chenab
• Headworks of these rivers lay in Indian Punjab
• April 1948: India shut off water supply and demanded Pakistan pay for the
supply
• Pakistan called for matter to be taken to International Court of Justice, India
refused
• May 1948: temporary agreement reached.
 REFUGEES
Wrong country –Voilence :
• People found themsleves in the wrong country
• 17million people left home, wealth, business to seek shelter
• Parititon on religious grounds, neighbours and friends turned against each
other
• Voilence errupted
• Ghost/blood trains
• Hindus and Sikhs operating with a plan to make things worse, Muslims also
retaliated
 REFUGEES

Accomodation crises:
• 20million people homeless, needed accomodation
• Newly created country, lacked resources,infrastructure and capital
• Refugee camps overflowing - refugees turning on locals (scaricity of recourses
leading to crime)
• Violence
 PRINCELY STATES

• 460 states – states that were goverened by Indian rulers,subsidary alliance

with the British bound by treaty to EIC and British government

• Mountbatten gave them right to chooose between India or Pakistan

• Most choices were accepted and exceuted seemlessly because of location and
religion, problems in three : Hyderabad , Junagarh and Kashmir
PRINCELY STATES - HYDERABAD
• Largest princely state, wealthy- Muslim ruler, non-mulsim
population
• Nizam of Hyderababd chose Pakistan, Indian Government
pressurizied him to join India
• Entered a treaty of defence , foreign affairs and
communication with India
• Further pressure was exerted
• August, 1948 : Hyderabad filed a complaint against India in
the UN, Indian army marched into Hyderabad and took
over, dismantled the state and incorporated it into diferent
provinces in India
PRINCELY STATES - JUNAGADH

• Nawab : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji II

• Population : Non Muslim , Prince : Muslim
• Location : coastal state, surrounded by India
• Nawab choose Pakistan
• Indian government sent troops causing riots and unsettlement
• Blockade imposed – shortage of food
• Nawab and family fled to Pakistan
• Nov 1947 : Indian troops invaded and took control
 PRINCELY STATES - KASHMIR
• Jummu & Kashmir – largest state in subcontinent
• Boundaries with China , Afghanistan , and USSR – great
strategic value
• All rivers flowing into Pakistan originate from Kashmir
• Muslim population, Hindu leader : Mahraja Hari Singh
• Wanted independence, didn’t treat Muslim’s well,
• Muslims rebelled, Hari Singh asked for India’s help , signed
“Instrument of Accession”
• Troops sent by Pakistan to help in the war
• Matter taken to the UN, ceasefire arranged , but India had
occupied major territory including capital Sirinagar
• LOC maintained supervised by UN, Kashmiris still waiting
for plebiscite