Pakistan Studies revision notes

One chapter for each section of the 2059 syllabus, with worked examples. Read a chapter, then practise it with real past-paper questions.

1. 1Religious Thinkers and the Spread of IslamShah Waliullah, Syed Ahmad Barelvi and the Jihad (Mujahideen) movement, and Haji Shariatullah and the Faraizi Movement: the revival of Islam in the subcontinent in the 18th and 19th centuries.11 min read
2. 2Decline of the Mughal EmpireThe causes of Mughal decline (Aurangzeb, weak successors, Marathas, Sikhs, foreign invasions), the rise of the East India Company, and British expansion to 1857 including the annexation of Sindh, the Punjab and Peshawar.13 min read
3. 3The War of Independence 1857–58The long-term and immediate causes of the 1857–58 War, its course (including the part played by what is now Pakistan), the attitude of Bahadur Shah Zafar, why it failed, and its consequences for Muslims and for British rule.10 min read
4. 4Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh MovementSir Syed's education, writing and religious ideas, the Aligarh College and movement, his relations with the British and the ulama, the Hindi–Urdu controversy and the Two-Nation Theory, and how successful the Aligarh Movement was.7 min read
5. 5Urdu and Regional LanguagesThe origin and importance of Urdu, why it became the national language, its advantages and disadvantages, and the promotion of Balochi, Punjabi, Pashto and Sindhi since 1947.7 min read
6. 6The Pakistan Movement in the Early 20th CenturyThe Partition of Bengal, the Simla Deputation and the foundation of the Muslim League, the Morley–Minto Reforms, the First World War and the Lucknow Pact, the Rowlatt Act and Amritsar, the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, communalism and the Delhi Proposals (1905–1927).15 min read
7. 7The Khilafat MovementThe origins and objectives of the Khilafat Movement, the Khilafat Conferences and delegations, the Hijrat Movement, Gandhi and Non-Cooperation, the reasons for failure and the impact on Muslims in the subcontinent.7 min read
8. 8The Pakistan Movement 1927–39The Simon Commission, the Nehru Report, Jinnah's 14 Points, Iqbal's Allahabad address, the Round Table Conferences, the Communal Award, Rahmat Ali and Pakistan, the Government of India Act 1935, the 1937 elections and Congress rule.14 min read
9. 9Finding a Solution, 1940–47The Second World War and India, the Pakistan (Lahore) Resolution, the Cripps Mission, Gandhi–Jinnah talks, the Simla Conference, the 1945–46 elections, the Cabinet Mission, Direct Action Day, the June 3 Plan, the Radcliffe Award and the Indian Independence Act.11 min read
10. 10Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and Rahmat AliThe contributions of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Chaudhry Rahmat Ali to the Pakistan Movement, and how their ideas differed.7 min read
11. 11Establishing the Nation, 1947–48The problems facing Pakistan at independence (the Radcliffe Award, refugees, assets, the canal water dispute, the princely states and Kashmir, administrative and economic difficulties, language) and Jinnah's role as Governor-General.11 min read
12. 12Stability after Jinnah's DeathThe ministries of 1948–58, the Objectives Resolution, the constitutions of 1956, 1962 and 1973, Ayub Khan and the Decade of Progress, and Yahya Khan.12 min read
13. 13East Pakistan and the Creation of BangladeshThe tensions between East and West Pakistan, the rise of the Awami League and Sheikh Mujib's Six Points, the 1970 elections, the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh.9 min read
14. 14Pakistan after the 'Decade of ProgressZulfikar Ali Bhutto's government (1971–77): the army, the Simla Agreement, the 1973 Constitution, reforms and overthrow; and General Zia-ul-Haq's rule (1977–88): Islamisation, law and government, the Eighth Amendment, problems and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.12 min read
15. 15Governments in the 1990sBenazir Bhutto's two governments (1988–90, 1993–96), Nawaz Sharif's two governments (1990–93, 1997–99), and why General Musharraf took power in 1999.9 min read
16. 16Pakistan in World AffairsThe aims of Pakistan's foreign policy, its nuclear programme, and its relations with Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Iran, China, the USSR/Russia, the USA, the UK and the Commonwealth, and the United Nations.11 min read
17. 17The Physical Environment: Location, Topography and ClimateThe location of Pakistan and its administrative areas and cities, the landforms, rivers and deserts, and the climate and its effect on people and the economy.12 min read
18. 18Natural Resources: Water, Forests, Minerals and FishWater supply, dams, barrages and the Indus Waters Treaty; forests and deforestation; mineral resources; and the fishing industry.14 min read
19. 19Power ResourcesSources of energy, non-renewable coal, oil and gas in Pakistan, and renewable hydel, wind, solar and other sources, and why electricity supply is unreliable.12 min read
20. 20AgricultureFarming systems, the main crops and livestock and where they are found, the factors that affect production, irrigation, waterlogging and salinity, and government action to increase production.15 min read
21. 21Industry and ServicesCommon terms, primary, secondary and tertiary industry, large, small and cottage industries, the formal and informal sectors, location factors, government support, export processing zones, services and tourism.10 min read
22. 22TradePakistan's main exports and imports, GDP and GNP, the balance of trade, Pakistan's trading partners, and the factors that promote or limit trade.6 min read
23. 23Transport and TelecommunicationsRoads, railways and air transport within Pakistan, international transport links, ports and dry ports, and telecommunications.8 min read
24. 24PopulationPopulation structure and growth, population movements (migration), the distribution and density of the population, and employment.10 min read