Current Affairs

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as One Belt One Road (OBOR), was launched in 2013 by China as a long-term infrastructure and economic development project connecting Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond. While there is no universally fixed official completion date, multiple authoritative sources including the World Bank and recent news reports indicate that the main infrastructure phase of the BRI is targeted to be largely completed by around 2025. This date is cited in recent analyses and reports as a key milestone year for the initiative's major projects and investments. Other dates such as 2030, 2040, or 2049 are not commonly referenced as planned completion years for OBOR/BRI. Therefore, the planned completion year of OBOR is best represented by 2025 (option A).

According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects 2019 data, Pakistan's population in 2019 was approximately 216.6 million, which constituted about 2.8% of the total world population of roughly 7.7 billion. This makes option D (2.81%) the closest and correct choice. The previously given answer of 2.61% is slightly lower than the official UN estimate for 2019.

Croatia is the newest member of the Eurozone, having adopted the euro on January 1, 2023. Lithuania joined earlier in 2015, Cyprus in 2008, and Bulgaria has not yet adopted the euro.

Amnesty International recently closed its offices in Afghanistan due to security concerns and the Taliban takeover, making Afghanistan the correct answer. The other countries listed have not had Amnesty International offices closed recently.

As of 2024, Jameel Ahmad is the current Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. He assumed office on August 26, 2022, for a term of five years. The other options—Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, Tariq Bajwa, and Reza Baqir—are former governors of the State Bank of Pakistan. This makes option C the correct answer.

The National Command Authority (NCA) of Pakistan is chaired by the Prime Minister, who is the civilian head responsible for nuclear policy decisions. However, the operational head and Secretary of the NCA is the Director-General of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Currently, Lieutenant-General Yusuf Jamal serves as the Director-General of the SPD and Secretary of the NCA, effectively acting as the chief operational head of the NCA. Therefore, while the Prime Minister chairs the NCA, the current chief in terms of operational command is Lt. Gen. Yusuf Jamal, making option B correct.

As of 2026, Maryam Nawaz Sharif is the Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan. Multiple recent news sources from 2026 confirm her incumbency in this position. The other options, including Hamza Shahbaz Sharif and Usman Buzdar, are former Chief Ministers or politicians but not the current officeholder in 2026.

As of 2026, Justice Yahya Afridi is the current Chief Justice of Pakistan. He took oath as the 30th Chief Justice on 26 October 2024, appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari. The other listed justices have served in the Supreme Court but are not the current Chief Justice in 2026.

Syed Murad Ali Shah was elected as the Chief Minister of Sindh on February 26, 2024, for the third consecutive term. He is currently serving in this position and is expected to hold it in 2026 unless there is a political change. The other options are either former Chief Ministers or unrelated political figures.

As of 2024 and confirmed by official government sources, Chaudhry Salik Hussain is the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development in Pakistan. There is no information contradicting this for the near future, including 2026. The other options do not hold this position currently.