General Knowledge

The Jamia Masjid in Damascus, also known as the Umayyad Mosque, was built by Caliph Walid I in the early 8th century. He commissioned its construction as one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world.

The theme of World Cancer Day 2019 was "I am and I will," emphasizing personal commitment to reducing the impact of cancer.

Stanley Wolpert is a well-known historian who authored books on both Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Z.A. Bhutto, making option D (A and C both) the correct answer.

Abida Parveen was honored with the President of Pakistan award, specifically the Pride of Performance award, in 1984. This is confirmed by multiple reliable sources including her Wikipedia page and official records of civil awards in Pakistan. Later, she received higher civilian awards such as the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2012 and Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2021, but the initial President of Pakistan award was indeed in 1984, making option A correct.

The World Day of Social Justice is officially observed every year on February 20th. This was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, with the first observance taking place in 2009. The day serves as a global reminder of the need to build fairer, inclusive, and sustainable societies. Therefore, the correct answer is option B, February 20.

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan completed his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Leuven, which is located in Belgium, often referred to as Leuven University. However, the correct country is Belgium, not Holland. The original correct answer 'C' (Belgium) is correct, but the question mentions 'Leaven University' which is a misspelling of 'Leuven University'. The options are countries, so the correct answer is Belgium (C).

The theme of the 2019 International Mother Language Day was "Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes," highlighting the importance of mother tongue-based education for improving learning outcomes.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. It is an international treaty that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, option B correctly identifies both the year and the location.

The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC), making option D the correct answer. It is not related to the World Bank, UNIDO, or FAO.

Punjab is famously known as the 'land of hospitality' due to its cultural tradition of warmly welcoming guests. The other provinces, while hospitable, are not commonly referred to by this title.

The famous Natural Bridge is located in Virginia, USA. It is a well-known natural rock formation and tourist attraction in the state.

Saudi Arabia officially allowed the public celebration of Valentine's Day for the first time on February 14, 2019, marking a significant cultural shift in the country. The other countries listed did not have such a notable first-time celebration on that date.

Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan city located in Peru, making Peru the correct answer. It is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and a major tourist attraction in Peru.

Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia and is known as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, making option A correct.

Agriculture is the largest sector of Pakistan's economy, employing a significant portion of the population and contributing the largest share to the GDP compared to banking, industry, or manufacturing.

Canada has the most natural lakes of any country in the world, with an estimated 31,752 lakes larger than three square kilometers. This far exceeds the number of natural lakes in Finland, China, or any other country.

Pakistan has three main crop seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. These seasons correspond to different planting and harvesting times throughout the year.

The main female deity worshipped by the Indus Valley Civilization is commonly identified as the 'Mother Goddess,' symbolizing fertility and nature. Other options like Sarada, Laxmi, and Shakti are from later Hindu traditions and not specifically linked to the Indus people.

The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is Australian by nationality. This is a well-documented fact in public records and media.

Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, located on the west coast of Africa. It is well-known as the largest city and economic center of Sierra Leone.

The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 and first awarded in 1969, making it the sixth category associated with the Nobel Prizes. The other categories—Physics, Chemistry, and Literature—were established earlier.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in 1989 by the G-7 Summit held in Paris to combat money laundering and related threats to the international financial system.

The first Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, officially called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, was established in 1968 and first awarded in 1969. The inaugural laureates were Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen. Therefore, the correct answer is B (1969).

Nadia Baeshen was appointed as the first female ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States, making option A correct. Princess Rima bint Bandar was a former ambassador but not the first female ambassador to the US from Saudi Arabia.

The national flower of Belize is the Black Orchid, which is native to the region and symbolizes the country's natural beauty.