Pakistan Studies

The proposed motorway from Gwadar (Pakistan) to Kashgar (China) is approximately 2800 km long, as it is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connecting Gwadar port to Kashgar in Xinjiang. This length is widely cited in official and academic sources.

According to the latest official data from the Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24 and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the agriculture sector of Pakistan contributes approximately 23.31% to the national GDP. This figure is slightly higher than the previously stated 21.42%. Therefore, the most accurate choice among the given options is D (22.22%), which is closest to the verified data. The agriculture sector remains a significant part of Pakistan's economy, providing employment to a large portion of the population and contributing substantially to GDP and exports.

The largest deposits of iron ore in Pakistan are found in the Kalabagh area of Punjab province, which is part of the extensive sedimentary iron ore belt including Jhang, Mianwali, and D.G. Khan. This belt holds roughly 1.15 billion tonnes of iron ore with grades around 30-37% Fe, making it the biggest iron ore resource in the country. Other significant deposits exist in Balochistan (Nokundi, Dalbandin, Mastung) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (including Pezu and Nizampur), but these are smaller in comparison. Koh-i-Sulaiman and Koh-i-Sultan are not recognized as major iron ore deposit areas. Therefore, the correct answer is D) Kalabagh.

The Jhimpir Wind Power Plant is located in the Thatta district of Sindh, Pakistan. This is a well-known fact about the location of one of Pakistan's major wind power projects.

The Parliament of Pakistan passed the bill to convert Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into a public limited company on 11 March 2016, making option B the correct answer.

Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan on 5 June 2013. Multiple reliable sources including BBC and Dawn confirm that the oath-taking ceremony took place on 5 June 2013, not 2 June. Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

The Pakistan-Qatar LNG import deal is a government-to-government contract signed for 15 years, making option C correct. This long-term agreement ensures energy supply stability for Pakistan.

According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24 and the World Bank Pakistan Development Update April 2025, the industrial sector of Pakistan, which includes manufacturing and mining, contributes approximately 13 percent to the national GDP. This is consistent with the data showing the industrial sector's share around 13.2% to 13.6% of GDP in recent years. The options given are close values around this figure, and 13.20% (option A) is the most accurate and supported by official sources. The World Bank reports and Pakistan Economic Survey confirm this contribution, making option A the correct answer.

The foundation stone of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam was laid by Nawaz Sharif in 2017. This makes option A the correct answer, as the other listed politicians did not perform this ceremony.

The first session of the All India Muslim League was presided over by Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk, who played a key role in the formation of the League in 1906. The other options were prominent figures but did not preside over the first session.

General Raheel Sharif took oath as the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan on 25 November 2013, making option B the correct answer.

The International Court of Arbitration set the minimum flow into the Neelum River at 7 cubic meters per second to ensure water availability as per the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project agreement between Pakistan and India.

The 2013 Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) honored HRH Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, the Sultan of the State of Perak, Malaysia, with the Global Islamic Finance Leadership Award. This confirms that Raja Nazrin Shah was the recipient of the GIFA in 2013, recognizing his contributions to Islamic finance. The other options did not receive this award that year.

The GSP Plus status allows Pakistan to export products without duties to the 27 European Union member states, not 28. The EU currently has 27 member countries after the UK's departure.

The Gomal Zam Dam is located in the South Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is situated on the Gomal River at Khajuri (Khjori) Kach, west of the Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts. Therefore, the correct answer is South Waziristan Agency (option A). The previously given correct answer (B) was incorrect, but the explanation correctly identified the location as South Waziristan.

Samina Khayal Baig is recognized as the first Pakistani woman to successfully scale Mount Everest, achieving this milestone in 2013. This makes option B the correct answer.

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) consisted of 6 agencies before their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018. Therefore, the correct answer is 6 agencies.

The Sui gas field is the largest natural gas field in Pakistan. However, according to reliable sources including Wikipedia, it contributes approximately 17% of Pakistan's total natural gas production, which is significantly lower than the 43% stated in the original question. The closest option to this verified figure is 33%, but since none of the options exactly match 17%, the best correction is to update the correct answer to D (33%) as the most reasonable choice among the given options, while clarifying the actual contribution is around 17%.

The Pakistan General Elections of 2013 were held on 11 May 2013. This is confirmed by multiple reliable sources including Wikipedia and Dawn news. Therefore, the correct answer is option B: 11 May 2013.

Pakistan was granted the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status starting January 2014. The status was originally set to run until the end of 2023, but the European Parliament voted to extend the GSP+ status for Pakistan until 31 December 2027. Therefore, the correct answer is option D (2021) is incorrect, and the correct extension year is 2027, which is beyond the options given. Since 2027 is not listed, the closest correct answer based on the latest extension is beyond 2021, so the question and options should be updated to reflect the current status.

The Head Office of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) is located in Karachi, which is the financial hub of Pakistan and the city where ICAP is headquartered.

The TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline construction began in December 2015, with the expected completion date initially projected around December 2019, not 2018. Hence, option D is correct.

Pakistan's first confirmed use of its Burraq drone was reported on 23 September 2015 in North Waziristan's Shawal Valley, marking a significant milestone in its military capabilities.

Muhammad Ali Bogra's formula was presented to the Constituent Assembly on March 7, 1952, proposing a framework for Pakistan's constitution. This date is historically documented as the presentation day of his formula.

Multiple reliable sources including Rekhta, Amazon, and educational MCQ websites confirm that the Urdu book "Pakistan Naguzeer Tha" was written by Syed Hasan Riaz (also spelled Riyaz or Raiz). This book is recognized for its focus on the ideological and historical justification of Pakistan's creation, making option D the correct answer.