The initial problems of Pakistan, 1947-1948

O Level Pakistan Studies History · Nationhood: 1947 to 1971. A short explanation of the idea, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid, a worked example and practice questions with answers.

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The idea

Pakistan was born on 14 August 1947 with very little ready. Partition set off one of the largest movements of people in history. Millions of Muslims crossed into Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs left for India, and there was terrible violence on both sides. The refugees needed food, shelter and work at once.

The new state also had to fight for its share of the assets of undivided India. Money and military stores were slow to come, and some never came. Karachi, the first capital, had few offices, records or trained officials, and the two wings were separated by about 1,600 km of Indian land.

Jinnah, as Governor-General, held the country together until his death in September 1948.

Rules to remember

Common mistake

Students mix up the problems of 1947-48 with later events. The Indus Waters Treaty (1960), One Unit (1955) and Basic Democracies (1959) are not part of Jinnah's work.

Worked example

At the start of 1948 India held back most of Pakistan's share of the cash balances. What reason did India give?

  1. The cash was due to Pakistan under the agreed division of assets.
  2. In October 1947 fighting had begun in Kashmir between the two countries.
  3. India said Pakistan would spend the money on arms to use against it in Kashmir.

Answer: India feared the money would pay for the fighting in Kashmir. Most of it was released only after Gandhi fasted in protest.

Practice questions

Try each one, then open the answer.

1. Which of these was one of Jinnah's actions to meet the refugee crisis?

  1. A
    the Quaid-e-Azam Relief Fund
  2. B
    the Indus Waters Treaty
  3. C
    the Basic Democracies system
  4. D
    the One Unit Scheme
Show answer

Answer: A. The Relief Fund raised money for refugees. The other measures came under later governments.

2. Why did the refugee crisis place such pressure on Pakistan in 1947–48?

  1. A
    most refugees came from Afghanistan after a civil war
  2. B
    millions of refugees needed food, shelter and work
  3. C
    the refugees were mainly Sikh farmers moving to Sindh
  4. D
    refugees went only to East Pakistan, which had no money
Show answer

Answer: B. Muslim refugees poured in, especially into the Punjab and Karachi, while Hindus and Sikhs left for India.

3. In which city was the Walton refugee camp set up in 1947?

  1. A
    Lahore
  2. B
    Karachi
  3. C
    Peshawar
  4. D
    Dhaka
Show answer

Answer: A. Walton in Lahore received huge numbers of refugees arriving from East Punjab.

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