General Knowledge

The Indus River originates in the Tibetan Plateau region of China. Its traditional source is near the perennial spring called Sênggê Kanbab or Sênggê Zangbo ("Lion's Mouth") close to Mount Kailash in Tibet, at an elevation of about 16,000 feet (4,900 meters). The river then flows northwest through Ladakh and into the Indian subcontinent and Pakistan. Gilgit is a city along the river's course in Pakistan but not the origin. Therefore, the correct answer is Tibet, not Gilgit.

Abbottabad is known as the “City of Maple Trees” due to the abundance of maple trees in the area, which is a distinctive feature of this city in Pakistan.

The Badshahi Masjid (Badshahi Mosque) was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb between 1671 and 1673. This is confirmed by multiple authoritative sources including Wikipedia and historical architecture references. The mosque is a significant example of Mughal architecture and was commissioned by Aurangzeb, not Shah Jahan or Akbar. Therefore, the correct answer is 'C' Aurangzeb Alamgir.

The five most populous cities of Pakistan are Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala, making option B correct. These cities have the highest population based on recent census data.

The abbreviation 'PB' has many meanings depending on context, including 'Peanut Butter,' 'Personal Best,' 'Private Banking,' and 'Public Bank.' Among the given options, 'Public Bank' is a well-known banking institution and a common meaning of 'PB' in banking contexts. 'Province of Balochistan' is not commonly abbreviated as 'PB,' and 'Posting Box' is not a standard abbreviation. Therefore, option B, 'Public Bank,' is the correct answer in this context.

Peshawar is commonly known as the 'City of Colleges' in Pakistan due to the high number of educational institutions located there. Lahore, while a major city with many colleges, is not typically referred to by this nickname.

Shah Burj was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as part of the Red Fort complex in Delhi. He is known for commissioning many architectural masterpieces during his reign.

Urdu was adopted as an official language of the courts and administration in the northern parts of British India during the early 1830s. While the formal decree replacing Persian with Urdu as the official court language was issued in 1837, the use of Urdu in governmental and legal affairs was already in practice by 1831. Therefore, the year 1837 is considered the official year when Urdu gained official status in the Indian subcontinent under British colonial rule, making option B (1837) the correct answer.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Awaran, Balochistan, occurred on September 24, 2013. Multiple authoritative sources including the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority and scientific studies confirm the earthquake's date as 2013, not 2012. The earthquake had a magnitude of approximately 7.7 to 7.8 and caused significant damage and casualties in the region. Therefore, the correct answer is B (2013).

The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan is appointed by the President of Pakistan, as per the Constitution of Pakistan. This is the official procedure for the appointment.

Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited was established in 1972 to provide essential commodities at reasonable prices to the public. This makes option B the correct answer.

Urdu is the lingua franca of Pakistan, serving as a common language that unites people from different linguistic backgrounds across the country.

The Kohala Hydroelectric Power Project is a $2.4 billion hydropower project located on the Jhelum River in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. It is a joint venture between Pakistan and China, specifically involving the Pakistani government, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir administration, and Chinese entities such as China Three Gorges Corporation. The project is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives. Therefore, the two countries involved in the implementation of the Kohala Hydroelectric Power Project are Pakistan and China, corresponding to option C.

The Smart National Identity Card (SNIC) was first issued in Pakistan in 2011, marking the introduction of biometric and smart card technology for national identification.

Based on the official records from the U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian and other authoritative sources, five U.S. Presidents have made official visits to Pakistan: Dwight D. Eisenhower (1959, informal visit to Karachi), Lyndon B. Johnson (1967, informal visit to Karachi), Richard M. Nixon (1969, state visit to Lahore), William J. Clinton (2000, met officials in Islamabad), and George W. Bush (2006, met President Musharraf in Islamabad). The original question's answer of three presidents is incomplete, as it omits Eisenhower and Johnson. Therefore, the correct answer is five.

The author of 'Hunter x Hunter' is Yoshihiro Togashi, a Japanese manga artist. None of the given options are correct, so 'None of these' is the correct choice.

International Children's Day is widely observed on 1st June in many countries, including Pakistan. The date 20 November is associated with Universal Children's Day, established by the UN, but International Children's Day is celebrated on 1st June.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was founded in 1970. Therefore, option A is correct. Option D (1969) is incorrect as the OIC was established the following year.

The word "Ideology" was coined in French by Antoine Destutt de Tracy in the late 18th century, combining Greek roots but as a term it originated in French.

The Pashtun are considered the world's largest tribal society, primarily inhabiting regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This distinguishes them from other tribes such as the Baloch, Noro, and Afridi, which are smaller in population and geographic spread.

World Inventors' Day is celebrated annually on November 9th to honor inventors and their contributions to society. This date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of the famous inventor Thomas Edison.

World Tuberculosis Day is observed annually on 24th March to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB).

Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, making her the youngest Nobel laureate in history. This is a well-documented fact.

Dr. Abdus Salam was the first Muslim Nobel Laureate, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his contribution to electroweak unification. Anwar Sadat and Muhammad Yunus also won Nobel Prizes later, but Salam was first.

Afghanistan became the newest member of SAARC in 2007, making it the latest country to join the organization among the options listed.