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CSS written syllabus
CSS Pakistan Affairs Syllabus
Pakistan Affairs is a 100-mark compulsory subject in the CSS written exam, examined in one three-hour paper. Below is FPSC's official syllabus, word for word: every section, topics and suggested readings.
- Marks
- 100
- Papers
- 1
- Time
- 3 hours a paper
- Group
- Compulsory
- Subject code
- 5
The paper
100 marks- I.Ideology of Pakistan-----definition and elucidation, historical aspects: Muslim rule in the Sub-Continent, its downfall and efforts for Renaissance. Movements for reforms-- Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi, Shah Waliullah, Sayyid Ahmad Shaheed, Aligarh, Deoband, Nadwah, and other educational institutions-------Sindh Madrassah and Islamia College Peshawar. Ideology of Pakistan in the light of Speeches and statements of Allama Iqbal and Quaid- i Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
- II.Land and people of Pakistan------- Geography, Society, Natural resources, Agriculture, Industry and education with reference to characteristics, trends and problems.
- III.Pakistan and Changing Regional Apparatus
- IV.Nuclear Program of Pakistan, its Safety and Security; International Concerns
- V.Regional Cooperation Organizations (SAARC,ECO,SCO) and the Role of Pakistan
- VI.Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan
- VII.Economic Challenges in Pakistan
- VIII.Non-Traditional Security Threats in Pakistan: Role of Non-State Actors
- IX.Pakistan’s Role in the Region
- X.The Palestine Issue
- XI.Changing Security Dynamics for Pakistan: Challenges to National Security of Pakistan
- XII.Political Evolution Since 1971
- XIII.Pakistan and US War on Terror
- XIV.Foreign Policy of Pakistan Post 9/11
- XV.Evolution of Democratic System in Pakistan
- XVI.Ethnic Issues and National Integration
- XVII.Hydro Politics ; Water Issues in Domestic and Regional Context
- XVIII.Pakistan’s National Interest
- XIX.Challenges to Sovereignty
- XX.Pakistan’s Energy Problems and their Effects
- XXI.Pakistan’s Relations with Neighbors excluding India
- XXII.Pakistan and India Relations Since 1947
- XXIII.The Kashmir Issue
- XXIV.The war in Afghanistan since 1979 and its impact on, and challenges to Pakistan in the Post 2014 era.
- XXV.Proxy Wars: Role of External Elements
- XXVI.Economic Conditions of Pakistan, the Most Recent Economic Survey, the Previous and Current Budgets, and the Problems and Performance of Major Sectors of Economy.
- XXVII.The Recent Constitutional and Legal Debates, the Latest Constitutional Amendments and Important Legislations, Legal Cases and the Role of Higher Courts.
- XXVIII.The Prevailing Social Problems of Pakistan and the Strategies to Deal with Them, Poverty, Education, Health and Sanitation.
Suggested readings
- 1.Federalism and Ethnic Conflict Regulation in India and Pakistan.Adeney, Katharine. , New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
- 2.Labor, Democratization and Development in India and Pakistan.Candland, Christopher, New York: Routledge, 2007.
- 3.Perception, Politics and Security in South Asia: The Compound Crisis in 1990.Chari, P.R. at al, New York: Routledge, 2003.
- 4.The Future of Pakistan.Cohen Stephen P. et al. Washington: Brookings Institute Press, 2011.
- 5.Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle with Militant Islam.Hussian, Zahid. New York: I.B.Tauris, 2007.
- 6.Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political Economy.Jalal, Aisha and Bose, Sugata. New York: Routledge, 1998.
- 7.Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia.Jalal, Aisha, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
- 8.Conflict Between India and Pakistan: an Encyclopedia.Lyon, Peter. California: ABC-CLIO, 2008.
- 9.Back to Pakistan: A Fifty Year Journey.Mass, Leslie Noyes. Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011.
- 10.Judging the State: Courts and Constitutional Politics in Pakistan.Newberg, Paula R. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
- 11.Pakistan: Manifest Destiny.Qureshi, Atiff. London: Epic Press, 2009.
- 12.Pakistan, America, and the Future of Global Jihad.Riedel, Bruce. Deadly Embrace: Washington: Brookings Institute Press, 2011.
- 13.Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War.Schofield, Victoria. New York: I.B.Tauria, 2003.
- 14.Islamic Law and the Law of Armed Conflict: The Armed Conflict in Pakistan.Shah, Niaz A. New York: Routledge, 2011.
- 15.Making Sense of Pakistan.Shaikh, Farzana. New York: Colombia University Press, 2009.
- 16.A Brief History of Pakistan.Wynbrandt, James. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009.
- 17.Powering Pakistan: Meetings Pakistan Energy Needs in 21st CenturyRobert M. Hathaway and Michael Gugelman
- 18.Pakistan’s Energy Sector: From Crisis to Crisis-Breaking the ChainZaid Alahdad
Past papers
FPSC's Pakistan Affairs papers from 2016 to 2026, as text. Open a year, or see them all.