Notes making for Pakistan affairs

[Samina Azeemi]

I' m preparing for css 2019. Please guide me how to prepare notes for pakistan affairs, as for a single topic there is a lot of data available in books and on internet, which at the end leads to nowhere.

[ThroneDeserter]

Originally Posted by Samina Azeemi

I' m preparing for css 2019. Please guide me how to prepare notes for pakistan affairs, as for a single topic there is a lot of data available in books and on internet, which at the end leads to nowhere.

Go through the essential prescribed items from Pre-Partition era (Sufiya, Ulama-e-Din, Sir Syed's Contribution, Nudwatul Ulma, etc.) using any of the books available.

Get some basic idea of important events, missions, plans and conferences in Pakistan Movement. You don't have to know about each and everything but having a bird's eye view is mandatory.

Briefly touch upon the constitution development, and the democratic crises due to military interference.


When you are done with that, revise, repeat and put the books down.

The next phase would take a bit of effort and it usually comprises of post 2000s. Get into as much detail about the important events of last 17 years as you can. Focus on WoT, political upheaval, optimistic situation of democracy post 2008 handover, water crises, possible Kashmir Intifada, economic situation, fiscal deficits, Pakistan-India, Pakistan-Iran, Pakistan-Afghanistan, Pakistan-China and Pakistan-Russian relations, theories of defense, strategic situation in region and all that stuff.

Since 2016, more importance is being given to issues which are current, and to questions which ask for your opinions rather than a straight fixed answer. Your ability to construct logically coherent answers is going to be more important than your ability to reproduce the facts.

Source: Been there, done that - cleared CE-2017 (Written).

[Norymberskie]

I have had a horrible experience with Ikram Rabbani's books so far. His IR book is nearly useless as it is just a compilation of Goldstein's and a few other books. Mostly Goldstein.

I started the topic of SAARC from Ikram Rabbani's book and it says only 12 summits have been held so far. The true number is 18. Its so surprising to see a leading author using outdated information. The whole article on SAARC is outdated. Even after saying only 12 summits have been held so far, the author conveniently talks about the 14th summit later on. He is just not reliable(which is sad since i used his books in Olevels and it was great)

[Samina Azeemi]

Originally Posted by ThroneDeserter

Go through the essential prescribed items from Pre-Partition era (Sufiya, Ulama-e-Din, Sir Syed's Contribution, Nudwatul Ulma, etc.) using any of the books available.

Get some basic idea of important events, missions, plans and conferences in Pakistan Movement. You don't have to know about each and everything but having a bird's eye view is mandatory.

Briefly touch upon the constitution development, and the democratic crises due to military interference.


When you are done with that, revise, repeat and put the books down.

The next phase would take a bit of effort and it usually comprises of post 2000s. Get into as much detail about the important events of last 17 years as you can. Focus on WoT, political upheaval, optimistic situation of democracy post 2008 handover, water crises, possible Kashmir Intifada, economic situation, fiscal deficits, Pakistan-India, Pakistan-Iran, Pakistan-Afghanistan, Pakistan-China and Pakistan-Russian relations, theories of defense, strategic situation in region and all that stuff.

Since 2016, more importance is being given to issues which are current, and to questions which ask for your opinions rather than a straight fixed answer. Your ability to construct logically coherent answers is going to be more important than your ability to reproduce the facts.

Source: Been there, done that - cleared CE-2017 (Written).

Thank you very much sir for a detailed answer. i'll follow it.

Sent from my SM-G530H using Tapatalk

[ThroneDeserter]

Originally Posted by Norymberskie

I have had a horrible experience with Ikram Rabbani's books so far. His IR book is nearly useless as it is just a compilation of Goldstein's and a few other books. Mostly Goldstein.

I started the topic of SAARC from Ikram Rabbani's book and it says only 12 summits have been held so far. The true number is 18. Its so surprising to see a leading author using outdated information. The whole article on SAARC is outdated. Even after saying only 12 summits have been held so far, the author conveniently talks about the 14th summit later on. He is just not reliable(which is sad since i used his books in Olevels and it was great)

Topics like these, must never be prepared from a book. These things keep changing and author can't be blamed for not fixing each and everything that hasn't been updated - specially when the book belongs to a particular niche.

Use Google to go through post 00s, that's the only reliable way.

That being said, the book is pretty good for Pre-Partition and Post Partition stuff till 2000s.

[Norymberskie]

Of course the author has to be blamed. The book is published in Aug 2017 with a price tag of Rs. 900. He is running a con if he is restricting the topics up till 2004. If he cannot add the information post 2004, what is the point of publishing a new edition of the book? Of course in Pakistan we are used to cons and have become experts in finding the right alternative but an author of his caliber should do better.

Anyhow thanks for your reply. Had been waiting for someone to help in this regard for quite a few days now.

[ThroneDeserter]

Originally Posted by Norymberskie

Of course the author has to be blamed. The book is published in Aug 2017 with a price tag of Rs. 900. He is running a con if he is restricting the topics up till 2004. If he cannot add the information post 2004, what is the point of publishing a new edition of the book? Of course in Pakistan we are used to cons and have become experts in finding the right alternative but an author of his caliber should do better.

Anyhow thanks for your reply. Had been waiting for someone to help in this regard for quite a few days now.

Complaining about stuff I can't change is not my mantra. Since the time is quite important during this phase I'd rather find alternatives than decrying flaws in society.

[Fraz Nazir]

[Prince of Bahawalpur]

Hello, folks i am goin to attempt css 2021, Insha Allah. I am facing issue in Pakistan Affairs, how to make short notes for revision and recommend me a single text book. how many days it will take to prepare this one?

[Muhammad Ali Chaudhry]

Originally Posted by Prince of Bahawalpur

Hello, folks i am goin to attempt css 2021, Insha Allah. I am facing issue in Pakistan Affairs, how to make short notes for revision and recommend me a single text book. how many days it will take to prepare this one?

If you are going to use any single book ,then it's better to make notes on that book. Or maybe add sticky notes to book.
And for making bullet notes, its better to just write the stuff that you think that by reading that stuff whole topic will come in your mind at the time of exams.
If you want to use a single book then go for Ikram rabbanis book. Best of luck.