Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
31
The Sahiwal Coal Power Plant, a major CPEC project, utilizes which technology to reduce emissions?
Answer:
Super-critical
The 1320 MW Sahiwal Coal Power Plant was the first major coal-fired power project under CPEC. It uses advanced supercritical technology, which operates at higher temperatures and pressures to achieve greater efficiency and lower carbon emissions compared to traditional sub-critical plants.
32
What is the primary role of WAPDA in the modern era after its restructuring in 2007?
Answer:
Developing water and hydroelectric power resources
Since the unbundling of the power sector, WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) has focused solely on the development of water resources and hydroelectric power projects. Thermal power, transmission, and distribution are now handled by separate entities like GENCOs, NTDC, and DISCOs.
33
Which nuclear power plant project, completed with Chinese help, is located in the Mianwali district?
Answer:
CHASNUPP (Chashma)
The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (CHASNUPP) complex is located near Chashma Barrage in the Mianwali district. It consists of multiple units (C-1 to C-4) built with Chinese cooperation, providing a steady base-load of electricity to the national grid.
34
Which of the following is an 'IPP' in Pakistan's energy terminology?
Answer:
Independent Power Producer
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are private-sector companies that own and operate power generation facilities. They sell electricity to the national grid under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), a policy initiated in 1994 to attract private investment into the energy sector.
35
The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project is built in which region?
Answer:
Azad Jammu & Kashmir
The Neelum-Jhelum project is an underground hydroelectric facility located in Muzaffarabad district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. It diverts water from the Neelum River through a tunnel to the Jhelum River, utilizing the height difference to generate nearly 969 MW of electricity.
36
In the context of energy, what is 'LNG' that Pakistan began importing significantly after 2015?
Answer:
Liquefied Natural Gas
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for ease of transport. Pakistan established LNG terminals at Port Qasim to import gas primarily from Qatar to bridge the domestic supply-demand gap in the power and industrial sectors.
37
Which organization is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the high-voltage transmission network across Pakistan (excluding Karachi)?
Answer:
NTDC
The National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) manages the 500kV and 220kV grid stations and transmission lines throughout the country. It acts as the backbone of the power delivery system, linking generation plants to the regional distribution companies.
38
The TAPI pipeline project is designed to transport natural gas to Pakistan from which country?
Answer:
Turkmenistan
TAPI stands for Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India. The project aims to transport natural gas from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, helping to address the regional energy deficit once completed.
39
What does 'Circular Debt' in Pakistan's energy sector primarily refer to?
Answer:
A chain of unpaid dues between power producers, fuel suppliers, and distribution companies
Circular debt is a liquidity crisis where distribution companies (DISCOs) fail to pay power producers (IPPs), who in turn cannot pay fuel suppliers (like PSO). This bottleneck is caused by high line losses, poor recovery of bills, and delayed government subsidies, often resulting in power shortages.
40
Which authority is responsible for regulating the power sector, including the determination of electricity tariffs in Pakistan?
Answer:
NEPRA
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is the independent body that oversees the power sector in Pakistan. Its roles include issuing licenses to generation and distribution companies, protecting consumer interests, and determining the tariff (price) of electricity.