Khwaja Fareed University of

Engineering & Information Technology

Rahim Yar Khan

Humanities & Social Sciences Department

PK1113 – Pakistan Studies

Credit Hours: 2(2-0) Semester: Spring 2019
Instructor: Mr Haris Kabir Office: Room # 3.05
Email: hariskabir1@gmail.com ELEN Block
Counseling 08:00-20:00, Monday-Friday
Hours:
Pre-requisites:
None NIL
Course This course is designed to provide the students a deep understanding
Description: of Pakistan’s geographical, social, cultural and political history and
heritage. It also aims to explore the challenges confronting
contemporary Pakistan. This course focuses on providing an
introduction to the regional, as well as national history of Pakistan. It
will be providing an introduction to the Pakistan’s founding ideology,
geographical bounds, political institutions, economy, society and
culture. The course is divided into four modules: A)The Natural, Social-
cultural & Economic Environment of Pakistan, B) The Historical
Perspective (pre independence era), C) Governments & Politics (post
independence era), D)Contemporary challenges and prospects.Efforts
will be made, on my behalf to make this course an engaging
educational experience for the students, thus enhancing their critical
thinking skills.

Course The objectives of this course are:

Learning 1. To provide an introduction to the origins of the Land (geography),
Objectives People, & Culture of Pakistan.
(CLOs): 2. To enhance students’ ability to understand the factors leading to the
rise of Pakistan Movement & creation of Pakistan along with the
political developments occurring since last 7 decades. (pre and post
independence period)
3. To cultivate independent critical thinking regarding the
contemporary socio-economic challenges(& their solutions) faced by
the Pakistani societies.

Tentative - Assignments 05%

Grading - Quiz/Class test 05%
Policy: - Class participation 05%
- Attendance 05%
- Midterm exam 30%
- Final exam 50%
 Total=100%

Class & The following policies will be enforced for this course:
Plagiarism
Policy: 1. Class attendance is mandatory and thus will be recorded.
Punctuality is valued and in order to enforce class discipline
students will be marked ‘absent’ in case they are more than 05
mins(max) late.
2. Office hours for consultation are provided on the first page and
generally, I am easily accessible through email for student queries.
3. There will be zero-tolerance towards plagiarism and cheating
and students guilty of plagiarism will be prosecuted as per
university policy.

Quiz/Assignme ● Quizzes will be unannounced.

nts Policy: ● Late submission of assignments will not be entertained.

Lecture Plan: Week 1

Introduction; Course orientation/Study Plan.
Why study Pakistan Studies?
What is critical thinking?
● Class Activity

Week 2 Section A Natural, Social & Cultural

Environment of Pakistan
Land of Pakistan – Area, geographical features (topography), Borders-
Natural/man-made, climate, natural resources-mountain ranges-rivers
etc
- Class Discussion Session
- Documentary Screening: Pakistan 2018 (HD)

Week 3
People of Pakistan I -Human population and physical environment,
Migration-causes, Ancient People (Mehrgarh, Indus Valley Civilization,
Gandhara Civilization), People/Tribes of G-B, KPK, Balochistan- physical
traits, languages, primary source of livelihood.
- Class Discussion Session

Week 4
People of Pakistan II - People/Tribes of Punjab & Sindh- physical traits,
social structure-caste system, feudalism, language, economic class
divisions.

Readings:
Zaidi, Akbar S. Pakistan’s Economic and Social Development. New
Delhi: Rupa Co, 2004, pp. 5-23.
Burki, Shahid Javed. Changing Perceptions, Altered Reality: Pakistan’s
Economy Under Musharraf 1999-2006. Karachi: Oxford University Press,
2007, 344-360.
● Quiz 1 (Online LMS)

Week 5
Section B Historical Perspective of Pakistan
(Pre-Independence Era)
Evolution and growth of Muslim society in the subcontinent, Rise of the
Muslim Nationalism in India- role of prominent personalities- Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Allama Muhammad Iqbal &
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the struggle for independence.

Readings:
Alavi, Hamza. “Misreading Partition Road Signs,” Economic and Political
Weekly (Nov 2-9, 2002): 4515-4523.
Sayeed, Khalid Bin. Pakistan: The Formative Phase 1857-1948. Karachi:
Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, 1969, pp. 3-12.
Alavi, Hamza. “Social Forces and Ideology in the Making of Pakistan,”
Economic and Political Weekly (Dec 21, 2002): 5119-5124

Week 6
Formation of Indian Congress/Creation of Muslim League, MM Reforms,
Lucknow Pack, Nehru Report, Quaid’s 14 points,MC Reforms 1919,
Round Table Conferences, Elections 1937, Lahore Resolution 1940,
Direct Action Day, Cabinet Mission, Elections, Creation of Pakistan 1947

Readings:
Talbot, Ian. “An Overview of Political and Economic Changes in Pakistan
Since Independence,” in Pakistan: 50 Years. ed. Roopa Minhas. London:
Berkley Communications Ltd, 1998, pp. 16-23.
● Assignment 1 (Research Work)

Week 7
Creation of the state of Pakistan, the division of British India, Early
problems- refugees, unfair division of assets, border disputes, status of
Princely states, the division criteria, the unresolved case of Kashmir,
the division of Punjab, the Hyderabad state crisis.
● Class discussion
● Documentary Screening: The story of Pakistan

Week 8 Mid-Term Examination

Week 9
Section C Governments and Policies
(Post-Independence Era)
Political History I (1947-69)
The Constituent Assembly and the first decade, Ayub Khan and the
decade of Development-economic gains/social losses.

Readings:
Aziz, K. K. Pakistan’s Political Culture: Essays in Historical and Social
Origins. Lahore: Vanguard Books (Pvt) Ltd., 2001, pp. 163-174. (Political
parties in Pakistan).
Mehmood, Safdar. Pakistan: Political Roots and Development. Lahore,
1994

Week 10
Political History II (1970-89)
Z.A Bhutto and the democratic rule, transition from democracy to
military rule, Zia ul haq and the rise of extremism,islamization of
Pakistan.

Readings:
LaPorte, Robert Jr. “Pakistan: A Nation Still in the Making,” in India and
Pakistan: The First Fifty Years. eds. Selig S Harrison, Paul Kreisberg and
Dennis Kux. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, pp. 45-61.
Ian Talbot, A Modern History, New Delhi: Foundation Books, 3rd edition,
2009, pp. 287-293.
● Quiz 2 (Online LMS)

Week 11
Political History of Pakistan III (1990-2009)
Return of PPP under BB and the rise of PML N, the power struggle of
1990s, Pervaiz Musharraf's coup and enlightened moderation, fall of
dictatorship and return of democracy.

Readings:
Goodson, Larry. “The 2008 Elections,” Journal of Democracy 19, no 4
(2008): 5-15
- Assignment 2 (Presentation)

Week 12
Section D Contemporary Challenges & Prospects

Economic challenges-Poverty, Unequal Resource distribution,

Corruption,Population
Environmental Problems- Urbanization, Global warming-smog etc

Readings:
Grare, Federic, “The Evolution of Sectarian Conflict in Pakistan.” Journal
of South Asian Studies 30, no. 1 (2007): 127-143
Waseem, Mohammad and Maria Mufti. “Religion Politics and
Governance in Pakistan,” Religions and Development Research
ProgrammeWorking Paper 27 (2009):18-34.
● Class Discussion session
Week 13
Socio challenges- Social change, Youth & Women Empowerment,
Minority Rights, Religious Extremism, Terrorism.

Readings:
Lall, Marie. “What role for Islam Today? The Political Islamization of
Pakistani Society,” in Shaping A Nation: An Examination of Education in
Pakistan. eds. Stephen Lyon and Iain Edgar. Karachi: Oxford University
Press, 2010, pp. 96-113.
● Documentary Screening: Khamosh Pani

Week 14
Future of Pakistan

Readings:
Burki, ShahidJaved. “Four Big Ideas that Shaped Pakistan.” Dawn, 31
August 2010. http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-
library/dawn/the-newspaper/op-ed-contributor/four-big-ideas-180
● -Class Discussion Session

Week 15
● Complete Course Content Revision + Q & A session
Week 16 Final Term Examinations