General Knowledge

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

Jam-e-Jahan Numa, started in 1822, is recognized as the first Urdu newspaper in the Indian subcontinent. The other options were published much later or are not Urdu newspapers.

Zahid Hussain was the first Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, appointed in 1948 when the bank was established. This is a well-documented historical fact.