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CSS PAKISTAN AFFAIRS SYLLABUS- Complete Outline

July 21, 2025
written by Muneeb Tariq

The CSS Pakistan Affairs paper carries 100 marks. It is a compulsory paper for all candidates. The paper tests knowledge about Pakistan’s history, politics, geography, and culture.

Candidates must score at least 40% to pass this paper individually. There is another way to qualify. If a candidate gets less than 40% in this paper but secures a total of 120 marks in all three compulsory general knowledge papers, they will pass.

The Pakistan Affairs paper covers:

  • Pakistan’s freedom movement
  • Constitutional development
  • Foreign policy
  • Economic issues
  • Social problems
  • Environmental challenges

The exam tests both knowledge and analytical skills. Candidates should understand the causes and effects of events in Pakistan’s history. They must be able to critically examine current national issues.

CSS SYLLABUS OF PAKISTAN AFFAIRS

CSS SYLLABUS PAKISTAN AFFAIRS – 100 MARKS1st Part
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 Peshawae. 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 Economic Cooperation (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 ActorsIX. Pakistan’s Role in the Region
X. Palestine IssueXI. Changing Security Dynamics for Pakistan: Challenges to National Security of Pakistan
XII. Political Evolution Since 1971
XIII. Pakistan and US War on TerrorXIV. Foreign Policy of Pakistan Post 9/11
XV. Evolution of Democratic System in PakistanXVI. Ethnic Issues and National Integration
XVII. Hydro Politics ; Water Issues in Domestic and Regional ContextXVIII. Pakistan’s National Interest
XIX. Challenges to SovereigntyXX. Pakistan’s Energy Problems and their Effects
XXI. Pakistan’s Relations with Neighbors excluding IndiaXXII. Pakistan and India Relations Since 1947
XXIII. Kashmir IssueXXIV. 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 ElementsXXVI. 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.

Recommended Books for css Pakistan affairs paper

TitleAuthor
Federalism and Ethnic Conflict
Regulation in India and Pakistan.
Adeney, Katharine. , New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2007.
Labor, Democratization and
Development in India and Pakistan.
Candland, Christopher,
New York: Routledge, 2007.
Perception, Politics and Security in
South Asia: The Compound Crisis in
1990.
Chari, P.R. at al, New York: Routledge,
2003.
The Future of Pakistan.Cohen Stephen P. et al. Washington: Brookings Institute Press, 2011.
Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle with
Militant Islam.
Hussian, Zahid. New York: I.B.Tauris,
2007.
Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political Economy.Jalal, Aisha and Bose, Sugata. New York: Routledge, 1998.
Democracy and Authoritarianism in South
Asia.
Jalal, Aisha, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1995.
Conflict Between India and Pakistan: an
Encyclopedia.
Lyon, Peter. California: ABC-CLIO,
2008.
Back to Pakistan: A Fifty Year Journey.M**** Leslie Noyes. Plymouth: Rowman
& Littlefield Publishers, 2011.
Judging the State: Courts and
Constitutional Politics in Pakistan.
Newberg, Paula R. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
Pakistan: Manifest Destiny.Qureshi, Atiff. London: Epic Press, 2009.
Pakistan, America, and the Future of
Global Jihad.
Riedel, Bruce. Deadly Embrace: Washington: Brookings Institute Press,
2011.
Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War.Schofield, Victoria.
New York: I.B.Tauria, 2003.
Islamic Law and the Law of Armed Conflict: The Armed Conflict in Pakistan.Shah, Niaz A. New York: Routledge,
2011.
Making Sense of Pakistan.Shaikh, Farzana. New York: Colombia
University Press, 2009.
A Brief History of Pakistan.Wynbrandt, James.
New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009.