PMS 2023 Solved Pakistan Studies Past Papers | Basis of Unity in the Multi-ethnic Society of Pakistan
The following question of PMS Pakistan Studies 2023 is solved by Miss Bushra Arooj, the best Pakistan Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
In this question, one has to mention the factors that are contributing to unity and integrity in Pakistan, regardless of its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society.
Outline
1-Introduction
2- A Brief Context of Societal Makeup of Pakistan
3-Key Factors Contributing to Unity and Integrity in Pakistan
- ✓Common Ideological Foundation
- ✓Shared History and Struggles
- ✓Provincial Autonomy
- ✓Urdu as a National Language
- ✓Cultural and Religious Festivals
- ✓National Games
- ✓National Institutions and Armed Forces
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Rising from the ashes of colonialism, Pakistan emerged on the world map on August 14, 1947. The country’s founding narrative by the nation’s leader, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the official national flag represent inclusivity and unity in diversity among the country’s citizens. Despite being a melting pot of several religions, languages and ethnicities, several factors compel the nation to stay united and integrated. For instance, the shared ideology behind the struggle for creating an independent homeland for Muslims and the shared challenges and experiences during and after partition impart a sense of unity and integrity in its citizens belonging to different regions and religions. Additionally, the Urdu language, major cultural and religious festivals, and the country’s armed forces instill a spirit of togetherness and integrity in the nation. In a nutshell, a number of reasons exist for the nation that keep it united and integrated despite its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural outlook.
A Brief Context of the Societal Makeup of Pakistan
Pakistan is a land of 240 million people coming from different religions, cultures, and ethnicities. Such diversity has always fascinated many research scholars, political scientists, and sociologists to inquire about the factors that contribute to this unity despite the differences. Though the pushing factor of its creation was Islam, some other religions, like Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity, are also practised in the country, bringing the Muslims to live together with the followers of other religions. Moreover, the country witnesses a blend of different languages, including Pashto, Punjabi, Balochi, and Sindhi. On average, there are around 77 established languages in the country. Additionally, the country is home to a blend of different cultures, which are reflected in the different dresses and cuisines across the country. So, the country experiences a diverse cultural, lingual and religious background, but the country stands united and integrated as one unit.
Key Factors Contributing to Unity and Integrity in Pakistan
- Common Ideological Foundation
The root cause of the creation of Pakistan was the Two-Nation Theory that called Muslims of India a separate and distinct nation from Indian Hindus and, therefore, demanded a separate nation for the Indian Muslims. This ideological foundation was shared by all the country’s regions, and therefore, it became a unifying force before and after partition.
- Shared History and Struggles
The struggle for independence from the British Raj and the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims was not a one-man or one-ethnic group effort; rather, it was the result of the efforts of various ethnic groups, which makes it part of the shared history of different ethnolinguistic groups. Additionally, the challenges that emerged after the creation of a separate homeland in the form of refugee rehabilitation, wars with India, and economic challenges were also experienced by all sections of Pakistani society. This shared struggle before partition and shared experiences after partition instils a sense of unity and cohesion in the entire nation.
- Provincial Autonomy
The 1973 constitution of the country, especially after the 18th Amendment, grants provinces autonomy to govern them according to their unique needs, balancing national unity with local identities. This devolution of power from the Centre has strengthened the regional representation and addressed potential conflicts among the provinces that could have evolved in its absence.
Moreover, initiatives like the 7th NFC Award that ensures fair resource distribution among provinces have been important contributions by the state to nurture bonding among the various ethno-cultural groups of the country.
- Urdu as a National Language
Though the country has diverse lingual groups who speak different languages, such as Pashto, Punjabi, Balochi and Sindhi, the only language that binds the entire nation is the Urdu language. Urdu bridges the communication gap between the different lingual sections of the country and, therefore, plays the role of lingua franca in the country. It is used in schools and official communication for its nationwide understanding.
- Cultural and Religious Festivals
Though the country has diverse religious groups, Muslims form the majority as 96.35% of the population follow Islam. Due to this, a number of religious festivals, like the Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, are celebrated across the country and even people from other religions living in the country respect them. Similarly, the religious festivals of other religious sections, such as Christmas, Holi, and Diwali, are venerated by Muslims, too. Moreover, a number of cultural events, such as Lok Mela, Basant Festival, and Shandur Polo Festival, attract people from across the country. These religious and cultural events instil a sense of cohesion among the people of the country.
- National Games
National games, especially cricket, serve the role of a binding force among the Pakistani people. For instance, cricket is more than a sport in Pakistan- it is a source of national passion that transcends ethnic, linguistic and regional differences. During international matches, like the ICC Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup and Asia Cup, people from all walks of life rally behind the Pakistani team and pray for their success. Similarly, the victory of national teams in any of the tournaments brings celebrations across the country.
- National Institutions and Armed Forces
As the armed forces, civil bureaucracy, and judiciary have representation from all provinces, they are centres for promoting national unity and integrity in the country. People from different ethnic-lingual groups respect the armed forces of the country and show their support on the eve of national days, like Defence Day, Independence Day, and Pakistan Day. Similarly, in civil services and judiciary, people from all regions of the country work together in the administration and governance affairs of the state, thereby promoting cooperation and collaboration among the masses. So, these national institutions are also contributing factors that unite the nation despite the differences in ethnicity, language, and religion.
Conclusion
Pakistan is the fifth most populus country in the world, and the population of the country is quite diverse in terms of religion, ethnicities, and languages. However, a number of factors reinforce national integrity and social cohesion in its populace, including the common ideology behind the shared struggle of the citizens of the nation; the Urdu language that fills the gap of communication among its multi-lingual citizenry; the national institutions, especially the armed forces of the country; and national games, especially cricket. In a word, a number of reasons provide reality to the statement of the founder of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, that we are now all Pakistanis- not Balochis, Pathan, Sindhis, Bengalis, Punjabis, and so on- and as Pakistanis, we must feel, behave and act, and we should be proud to be known as Pakistanis and nothing else.
CSS Solved Past Papers’ Essays
Looking for the last ten years of CSS and PMS Solved Essays and want to know how Sir Kazim’s students write and score the highest marks in the essays’ papers? Then, click on the CSS Solved Essays to start reading them.
CSS Solved Essays
CSS Solved General Science & Ability Past Papers
Want to read the last ten years’ General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers to learn how to attempt them and to score high? Let’s click on the link below to read them all freely. All past papers have been solved by Pakistan’s top CSS GSA coach having the highest score of their students.
General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers
