General Knowledge

Based on extensive search results from official and credible sources, Islamia University of Bahawalpur (often referred to as Sargodha University in some contexts) was the first university in Pakistan to start a PhD programme specifically focused on Seerat-ul-Nabi (the life of the Prophet Muhammad, SAW). This pioneering step distinguishes it from other universities listed such as Liaquat University, Sindh University, and Punjab University. The detailed information from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur's official communications and news confirms this fact, supporting the original answer choice A.

Mossad is the national intelligence agency of Israel, responsible for intelligence gathering, covert operations, and counterterrorism. The other options are intelligence agencies of other countries: CIA (USA), RAW (India), and ASIS (Australia).

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is widely recognized as the 'Father of Modern Education' among Muslims in the Indian subcontinent due to his efforts in promoting modern scientific education and founding the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which later became Aligarh Muslim University.

Switzerland is known for having some of the freshest and cleanest water in the world, largely due to its abundant glaciers, lakes, and strict environmental regulations. This makes it the correct answer among the options provided.

The Katpana Desert, also known as the Cold Desert, is located near Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is one of the highest cold deserts in the world, making option B the correct answer.

In Myanmar, the military (Tatmadaw) has a significant role in politics, including reserved parliamentary seats and military-backed candidates contesting elections, as seen in the 2025-2026 managed elections dominated by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. In Egypt, while former military officers including President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have prominent political roles and some ex-officers run for parliamentary seats, active military personnel do not directly contest elections. In Hong Kong, active People's Liberation Army personnel are not permitted to stand as candidates in elections. Similarly, in China, the Constitution bars active PLA members from holding elected office, so they do not contest popular elections directly. Therefore, Myanmar is the country among the options where military personnel can contest elections.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, opened in 2016, is the world's longest and deepest railway tunnel, measuring about 57 kilometers in length and reaching depths of up to 2,300 meters beneath the Alps.

Women in Switzerland were granted the right to vote at the federal level in 1971, making option D the correct answer.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually on December 10th in Oslo, Norway, as per the wishes of Alfred Nobel. This is distinct from the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in Sweden.

Wellington Arch is a famous landmark located in London, England. It is not located in New Zealand or Australia, making option B the correct answer.

Australia is known for having polymer banknotes which are waterproof, unlike traditional paper currency. This makes the Australian dollar notes durable and resistant to water damage.

The book "Jinnah to Modi" was written by Kuldeep Nayyar, making option C the correct answer. The other options are incorrect authors for this book.

Karl von Drais invented the first practical bicycle, known as the 'laufmaschine' or 'running machine,' in 1817. This invention is widely recognized as the precursor to the modern bicycle.

The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, established in 1921, is the oldest engineering university in Pakistan, predating other institutions like NUST and UET Taxila.

The term 'Ammunition of Muslim League' refers to Islamia College Peshawar, which played a significant role in supporting the Muslim League during the Pakistan Movement. It was known as a stronghold and source of support for the League's political activities.

Minar-e-Pakistan was designed by Nasreddin Murat-Khan, a Russian-born Pakistani architect, making option A correct. He is credited with the design and construction of this iconic monument in Lahore.

The first person to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials was Margaret Keenan in the UK on December 8, 2020, making the UK the correct answer.

Barbados is famously known as "The Land of Flying Fish" because the flying fish is a national symbol and a common feature in its cuisine and culture. None of the other options are associated with this nickname.

Recent and reliable data from multiple sources including Statista and technology market analyses indicate that China currently has the highest number of smartphone users in the world, with approximately 975 million users in 2024. India follows as the second largest market but has not surpassed China in total smartphone users yet. Therefore, the correct answer is China, not India.

In 2020, AirlineRatings.com named Air New Zealand as the best airline, recognizing its safety, service, and innovation. Although other awards like the Skytrax World Airline Awards named Qatar Airways as the best airline in 2020, the question specifically aligns with the AirlineRatings.com award, which Air New Zealand won. The option 'New Zealand' is a shorthand for 'Air New Zealand' and is acceptable in this context.

The Cod Wars were a series of disputes primarily between the United Kingdom and Iceland over fishing rights in the North Atlantic. Therefore, option A is correct.

Barack Obama's memoir "A Promised Land" was officially published and released worldwide on November 17, 2020. This date is confirmed by multiple authoritative sources including Penguin Random House and Wikipedia. Therefore, the correct answer is option C: 17 November.

TikTok was created by the Chinese company ByteDance, which was founded by Zhang Yiming. Zhang Yiming is the accurate founder associated with TikTok's creation, not Yuan or John Austin. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Aksai Chin is a disputed border area located between China and India, making option B the correct answer. It is not between Pakistan and any other country, so the other options are incorrect.

There are 8 recognized planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, so it is no longer counted as a planet.