Question 1

Who was the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Benazir Bhutto

Explanation: Benazir Bhutto became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan (and the Muslim world) in 1988. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She served two terms as PM (1988-1990 and 1993-1996). She was assassinated in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.

Question 2

Which river is called the 'Nile of Pakistan'?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Indus River

Explanation: The Indus River is often referred to as the Nile of Pakistan because, like the Nile in Egypt, it is the primary source of fresh water in an arid region. Without the Indus and its irrigation system, much of Pakistan would be a desert. It sustains the country's agriculture and economy.

Question 3

The national bird of Pakistan is:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Chukar Partridge

Explanation: The Chukar Partridge (Chakoor) is the national bird of Pakistan. It is a gamebird in the pheasant family found in the rocky slopes of the Himalayas and other mountain ranges in Pakistan. It represents intense love in Urdu poetry, often said to be in love with the moon.

Question 4

When did Zulfikar Ali Bhutto become President?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: 1971

Explanation: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the President of Pakistan (and Chief Martial Law Administrator) on December 20, 1971, following the resignation of General Yahya Khan after the fall of Dhaka. Later, under the 1973 Constitution, he became the Prime Minister.

Question 5

Which city is known as the 'Manchester of Pakistan'?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Faisalabad

Explanation: Faisalabad (formerly Lyallpur) is called the Manchester of Pakistan because it is the hub of the textile industry, similar to Manchester in the UK. It contributes significantly to Pakistan's exports through cotton, yarn, and cloth production. It is the third-largest city in Pakistan.

Question 6

Pakistan won the Cricket World Cup in:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: 1992

Explanation: Pakistan won its first and only ODI Cricket World Cup in 1992 under the captaincy of Imran Khan. The final was played against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia. Wasim Akram was the Man of the Match for his crucial wickets.

Question 7

The Durand Line is the border between:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Pakistan and Afghanistan

Explanation: The Durand Line is the 2,640 km long international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was established in 1893 after an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan. It cuts through the Pashtun tribal areas.

Question 8

Which desert is located in Bahawalpur?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Cholistan

Explanation: The Cholistan Desert, locally known as 'Rohi', is located in the Bahawalpur district of Punjab. It adjoins the Thar Desert of Sindh and India. It is famous for the Derawar Fort and its annual Jeep Rally. The people here lead a semi-nomadic life.

Question 9

The Lahore Resolution was presented by:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: A.K. Fazlul Huq

Explanation: The Lahore Resolution (later known as the Pakistan Resolution) was presented by A.K. Fazlul Huq, the 'Sher-e-Bangla', on March 23, 1940. It was passed at Minto Park (now Iqbal Park) in Lahore. It demanded separate states for Muslims in the northwestern and eastern zones of India.

Question 10

Pakistan's first Nobel Prize winner was:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Dr. Abdus Salam

Explanation: Dr. Abdus Salam won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his contribution to the Electroweak Unification Theory. He was the first Pakistani and the first Muslim scientist to receive a Nobel Prize in science. Malala Yousafzai later won the Peace Prize in 2014.

Question 11

Who was the last Viceroy of India?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Lord Mountbatten

Explanation: Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India. He oversaw the transition of British India to independence and the partition into India and Pakistan in 1947. He also served as the first Governor-General of independent India, while Jinnah served for Pakistan.

Question 12

The Salt Mine at Khewra is located in which district?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Jhelum

Explanation: The Khewra Salt Mine is located in the Jhelum district of Punjab. It is the second-largest salt mine in the world and a major tourist attraction. It is said to have been discovered by the troops of Alexander the Great in 320 BC when their horses started licking the stones.

Question 13

Which range separates Pakistan from China?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Karakoram

Explanation: The Karakoram mountain range spans the borders of Pakistan, China, and India. It separates the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan from Xinjiang, China. The Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved international border crossing, is located in this range. It is home to K2.

Question 14

Who wrote the lyrics of the National Anthem?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Hafeez Jalandhari

Explanation: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez Jalandhari wrote the lyrics of Pakistan's National Anthem in 1952. The lyrics are in highly Persianized Urdu. It consists of three stanzas and takes approximately 80 seconds to sing. It was officially adopted in 1954.

Question 15

The first census in Pakistan was held in:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: 1951

Explanation: The first national population census in Pakistan was conducted in 1951. Subsequent censuses were held in 1961, 1972, 1981, 1998, 2017, and most recently the digital census in 2023. Censuses are crucial for resource distribution and constituency delimitation.

Question 16

The Simla Agreement was signed in:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: 1972

Explanation: The Simla Agreement was signed on July 2, 1972, between Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan and Indira Gandhi of India. It followed the 1971 war and resulted in the release of Pakistani prisoners of war (POWs) and the conversion of the ceasefire line into the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.

Question 17

Which of the following is the largest province by area?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Balochistan

Explanation: Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by area, covering approximately 44% of the country's total landmass. However, it is the least populated province due to its rugged mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. Its capital is Quetta.

Question 18

When did Pakistan conduct its nuclear tests?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: 28 May 1998

Explanation: Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, in the Chagai hills of Balochistan. This day is celebrated as 'Youm-e-Takbir'. The tests were a response to India's nuclear tests earlier that month. With these tests, Pakistan became the first Muslim nuclear power.

Question 19

The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro are located in:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Sindh

Explanation: Mohenjo-Daro ('Mound of the Dead') is an archaeological site in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, built around 2500 BCE. It was discovered in the 1920s and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Question 20

Who was the first Muslim Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: Field Marshal Ayub Khan

Explanation: General Ayub Khan became the first native Muslim Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army in January 1951, succeeding General Douglas Gracey. He later declared Martial Law in 1958 and became the President of Pakistan. He held the rank of Field Marshal.

Pak Studies MCQs