2. Outline
1. Choice of Capital and Establishment of Government
2. Administrative Problems
3. Issue of States
4. Unfair Boundary Demarcation
5. Distribution of Assets
6. Migration and Rehabilitation of Refugee
7. Canal Water Problem
8. Constitutional Problem
9. Economic Problems
10. National Language
3. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
• 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.
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.
4. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
1. Choice of Capital and Establishment of Government
The first problem that Pakistan had to face was to choose a
capital to form a Government and to establish a secretariat.
Karachi was chosen as the capital of Pakistan.
Quaid-e-Azam took the office of the Governor General,
Liaquat Ali Khan was appointed as Prime Minister and a
Cabinet of experienced persons was selected.
5. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
2. Administrative Problem.
The non-Muslim government officials previously working in the
areas of Pakistan shifted to India in a large number.
British officers were employed due to non availability of Muslim
officers.
Shortage of items of furniture, stationery, and type writers.
Shortage of buildings, most of the offices started their function in
open air.
6. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
3. Issue of Princely States:
At the time of partition there were 580 big and small princely states in India.
Under the partition plan, these states were given an option to accede with either
one of the two states, Pakistan or India.
Most of the states had decide their future till August 5, 1947. Some of the states
could not make a timely decision; important among these were.
A. Hyderabad:
One of the largest wealthiest state in south India.
Majority of the population was Hindu but its ruler was Muslim and wished to
remain independent.
Indian forces entered the state on Sep: 12, 1948.
B. Junagadah:
Same circumstances as was of Hyderabad.
C. Kashmir:
Most important state of the India.
Muslim majority population but ruled by Hindu ruler.
Hindu ruler did not want to accede to Pakistan, in spite all the factors favoring states
accession to Pakistan.
War was started between and India and Pakistan, some parts of Kashmir was
annexed by India and still a disputed region between India and Pakistan.
7. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
4. Unfair Boundary demarcation:
A boundary commission was set up under a British Chairman,
Sir Cyril Redcliff. He misused his powers and handed over
Muslims majority areas like Gurdaspur, Ferozpur and Junagadh
to India.
India was granted access to the state of Jammu and Kashmir
through inclusion of Gurdaspura in India.
Quaid-e-Azam called “it an unjust, incomprehensible and even
perverse award”.
Sir Radcliff not only deprived the Muslims of their areas and
rights but also create the problem of Kashmir issue, he planted a
seed of enmity between the two nations that is still a bone of
contention between the two.
8. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
5. Distribution of Assets:
a. Military Assets:
It was announced on July I, 1947 that Indian army would also
be divided in ratio 65 to 35 in India's favour it was with
reference of the communal balance present in the British
Indian Army.
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.
Pakistan did not receive the due share of the military assets till
now. This dishonest attitude put Pakistan into great difficulties
9. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
b. 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 200 million rupees. As the war between India
and Pakistan had started on the issue of Kashmir India again
stopped the rest of the amount.
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.
10. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
6. Rehabilitation of Refugee:
According to reliable estimates 5.5 Million people migrated from
Pakistan to India and 6.5 Million from India to Pakistan as a result of the
big 1947 migration. In this way already weak economy of Pakistan was
made to bear the burden of one million more people.
Rehabilitation of refugees and provision of basic needs for them was an
huge problem. The government of Pakistan made an accelerated
planning to provide them with food , homes, medicines and other
necessities.
The local people welcomed them with open arms.
Rehabilitation of the refugees was a great challenge. The world has not
seen such a large scale of migration anywhere else.
11. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
7. Canal Water Problem:
The boundary of India and Pakistan in way that it cut across the
rivers and canal making India the upper beneficiary and Pakistan
the lower beneficiary.
Most of the rivers flowing in Pakistan have their origin in India.
In 1948, India stopped water supply to Pakistani canals to damage
the Pakistani agriculture.
However on 9th September, 1960 on agreement called Indus Basin
Treaty was signed between the two countries
12. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
8. 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 permanent constitution created chances of corrupt
interference in democratic progress of Pakistan.
13. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
9. Economic Problems
When Pakistan came into existence, it mostly consisted of
economically backward and underdeveloped areas.
The agricultural system was obsolete and outdated which added to
the economic backwardness of the areas forming part of Pakistan.
The entire capital was in the hands of the Hindus.
Unfortunately, the banks and other financial institutions were
located in Indian territory.
Besides these factors the technical experts and labourers, who
operated the industries, were all Hindus because the Muslims
extremely lagged behind in education and financial capabilities
14. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
10. National Language
After the establishment of Pakistan language controversy was
started between East and West Pakistan.
The members of the Constituent Assembly belonged to East
Pakistan demanded that instead of Urdu, Bengali should be made
national language of Pakistan.
In March 1948 while addressing at Dhaka, Quaid-e-Azam
declared, “Urdu and Urdu alone would be the national language of
Pakistan.
15. INITIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN
Conclusion
Pakistan came into being as a free Muslim state in quite
unfavourable circumstances ,it had no resources, it had to build up
its administrative machinery from a scratch. But Supreme efforts
were made by the Quaid-e-Azam and his colleagues to grapple
with the situation. His golden principles "Unity " "Faith" and
"Discipline" gave way to Pakistan for a bright future of a strong
and well developed country .In his last message to the nation on
14th August 1948,he told the nation: "The foundation of your state
have been laid and it is now for you to build and build as quickly
and as you can." Quaid-e-Azam was addressing the historic public
meeting at Lahore, he said: “ It is now up to you to work, work
and work and we are bound to succeed. And never forget our
motto Unity, Discipline and faith.”