The problems of the new state and Jinnah as Governor-General

Last time

Before we start: last time, in The Lahore Resolution to independence, 1940 to 1947, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

A state built from nothing

Pakistan was born on 14 August 1947 with no capital ready, few officials, and millions of refugees on the move. Its survival was not certain. This lesson covers the problems the new state faced, and how Jinnah led it in its first year.

Refugees

Partition caused one of the largest migrations in history, as Muslims moved to Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs to India. Terrible violence broke out, especially in the Punjab, and many were killed on the journey. Pakistan had to feed, house and settle millions of refugees, with very little money.

Setting up a government

Karachi became the capital, but there were few government buildings, and officials worked in tents and makeshift offices. There were few trained administrators, as most senior officials had been Hindus who went to India. There was a shortage of office equipment, even paper and pins.

The division of assets

Pakistan was to receive a share of the cash balances and military equipment of British India. India delayed handing over Pakistan's share of the money, and much of the military equipment never arrived. This made it very hard to pay officials and to defend the new country.

The canal water dispute

The rivers that watered Pakistan's farms flowed from India, and the headworks controlling the canals were in India. In April 1948 India stopped the water flowing into Pakistan's canals, threatening crops. A temporary agreement followed; the dispute was finally settled by the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960.

Kashmir and the princely states

Kashmir had a Muslim majority, but its Hindu ruler acceded to India in October 1947, leading to war. A UN ceasefire came in January 1949, leaving Kashmir divided. The dispute continues. India also took Junagadh and Hyderabad, whose rulers had wanted to join Pakistan or stay independent.

Jinnah as Governor-General

Jinnah became the first Governor-General and led the government with great authority. He set up the Quaid-e-Azam Relief Fund for refugees, toured refugee camps, and urged calm. He opened the State Bank of Pakistan in July 1948, giving the country its own currency system.

Unity, Faith, Discipline

Jinnah stressed national unity above provincial loyalties, and urged people to work hard for the new state. His motto was Unity, Faith and Discipline. He died on 11 September 1948, only a year after independence.

Were the problems overcome?

Overcome: refugees were gradually settled, a government and civil service were built, and the State Bank was set up. Not overcome: Kashmir stayed unresolved, the constitution took until 1956, and political instability followed Jinnah's death. The water dispute was solved, but only in 1960. Weigh the problems and judge.

Mistakes that lose marks

Mistake one: listing problems without explaining why each threatened the new state. Mistake two: saying the water dispute was solved in 1948. The treaty was in 1960. Mistake three: describing Jinnah's life rather than his actions as Governor-General. The fix: problem, why it threatened Pakistan, how it was handled.

The full-marks tip

The full-marks tip: for each problem, explain why it threatened the survival of the new state. For Jinnah, give specific actions: the Relief Fund, the State Bank, and his call for unity.

On one card

So, on one card: the new state. Keep it for revision.