February 2024 Edition
Start February Quiz
February 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions
Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.
#941
Pakistan's 'Economic Diplomacy' doctrine of 2024-2025 is summarized as shifting from:
(a) War to Peace
(b) Geopolitics to Geoeconomics
(c) East to West
(d) Agriculture to Industry only
Explanation: The 'Geoeconomic' shift means that Pakistan wants to be seen as a land-bridge and an economic partner rather than a security surrogate. This policy aims to leverage Pakistan's location for transit, trade, and regional connectivity to ensure long-term national security.
#942
The 'Lahore Declaration' signed in February 1999 was a major peace initiative between Nawaz Sharif and which Indian leader?
(a) I. K. Gujral
(b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(c) Manmohan Singh
(d) Narendra Modi
Explanation: The Lahore Declaration was signed during PM Vajpayee's historic bus journey to Lahore. It was a significant attempt to normalize relations post-nuclear tests, emphasizing the resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue. However, the spirit of the declaration was soon overshadowed by the Kargil conflict.
#943
What was the name of the aerial response launched by the Pakistan Air Force in February 2019 following India's Balakot airstrike?
(a) Operation Zarb-e-Azb
(b) Operation Swift Retort
(c) Operation Sentinel
(d) Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
Explanation: On February 27, 2019, the PAF launched Operation Swift Retort, which resulted in the downing of two Indian fighter jets and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. This was a significant event in recent foreign policy, demonstrating Pakistan's 'Quid Pro Quo Plus' doctrine.
#944
What is the total value of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved by the IMF for Pakistan in September 2024?
(a) $3 Billion
(b) $5 Billion
(c) $7 Billion
(d) $9 Billion
Explanation: In September 2024, the IMF Executive Board approved a 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Pakistan worth approximately $7 billion (SDR 5,320 million). The program is aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and enabling sustainable growth.
#945
In October 2024, Pakistan hosted which major international gathering for the first time in nearly two decades?
(a) SAARC Summit
(b) SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting
(c) OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting
(d) United Nations General Assembly Session
Explanation: Pakistan hosted the 23rd meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024. The event attended by leaders from Russia, China, and Central Asian nations, including the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nine years.
#946
Which neighboring country's President visited Pakistan in April 2024, the first such high-level visit after the 'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar' tensions?
(a) Afghanistan
(b) Iran
(c) China
(d) Turkey
Explanation: President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran visited Pakistan in April 2024. This visit was diplomatically significant as it aimed to normalize ties and promote economic cooperation following a brief period of border tensions and missile exchanges in early 2024.
#947
In 2024, Pakistan and which country signed a series of MoUs worth $2.2 billion during a high-level investment summit in Islamabad?
(a) China
(b) Saudi Arabia
(c) Russia
(d) Germany
Explanation: During a landmark visit by a high-level Saudi delegation in October 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed 27 MoUs and agreements worth $2.2 billion across various sectors, signaling a major boost in bilateral economic ties.
#948
Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2024 for which term?
(a) 2024-2025
(b) 2025-2026
(c) 2026-2027
(d) 2023-2024
Explanation: In June 2024, Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, receiving 182 votes. This is Pakistan's eighth time serving on the Council, where it advocates for the right of self-determination and regional peace.
#949
Which country provided a 'liquidity support' of $2 billion in March 2024 to help Pakistan meet its external debt obligations?
(a) China
(b) Saudi Arabia
(c) United Arab Emirates
(d) Qatar
Explanation: China rolled over a $2 billion loan in early 2024 to assist Pakistan in maintaining its foreign exchange reserves. Such 'rollovers' from China and Saudi Arabia have been critical for Pakistan's debt management during current economic challenges.
#950
The 2024 SCO summit in Islamabad saw a breakthrough meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and:
(a) India
(b) Ukraine
(c) Israel
(d) USA
Explanation: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Islamabad in October 2024 for the SCO summit was the first such visit since 2015. While no formal bilateral talks took place, the attendance was seen as a positive step for regional multilateralism.
#951
In the current 2024-2025 period, Pakistan's relationship with the Taliban-led Afghanistan is primarily strained over the issue of:
(a) Trade through Torkham
(b) The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens
(c) Water sharing of the Kabul river
(d) The recognition of the government
Explanation: Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have been increasingly tense due to the surge in cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Afghan interim government to stop using its soil for TTP attacks, leading to border closures and security crackdowns.
#952
Which state's Prime Minister visited Pakistan in October 2024 to discuss 'Halal Trade' and economic cooperation?
(a) Malaysia
(b) Indonesia
(c) Singapore
(d) Brunei
Explanation: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited Islamabad in October 2024. The visit focused on increasing trade in rice, meat, and palm oil, and both countries agreed to explore the potential of the 'Halal' economy as a major bilateral trade driver.
#953
Pakistan's 'Bilateral Investment Treaty' (BIT) framework was overhauled in 2024 to:
(a) Ban foreign companies
(b) Provide better legal protection to investors while safeguarding national interests
(c) Increase corporate taxes
(d) Abolish the SIFC
Explanation: Learning from the Reko Diq and Karkey cases, Pakistan modernized its BIT model in 2024. The new framework aims to attract investment by offering clearer dispute resolution mechanisms while ensuring that the state is not vulnerable to unfair international arbitration penalties.
#954
The 'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar' in January 2024 involved Pakistan's retaliatory strikes against militant groups in which country?
(a) Afghanistan
(b) Iran
(c) India
(d) Uzbekistan
Explanation: Following an Iranian missile strike in Balochistan, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on January 18, 2024, against hideouts of the 'Sarmachar' Baloch militants in Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran. This was a rare military exchange between the two neighbors, though both sides quickly moved to de-escalate.
#955
Which Gulf nation signed an agreement in 2024 to invest $1 billion in the operations of the Karachi Port Terminal?
(a) Saudi Arabia
(b) United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi Ports)
(c) Qatar
(d) Oman
Explanation: The UAE-based AD Ports Group signed a 25-year concession agreement in 2023/2024 to develop and operate the Karachi Gateway Terminal. This is part of the broader foreign policy shift towards 'investment-not-loans' with GCC partners.
#956
What is the primary objective of Pakistan's 'Economic Diplomacy' initiative launched in 2024?
(a) Building more nuclear plants
(b) Shifting from geo-politics to geo-economics by prioritizing trade and investment
(c) Banning the use of Dollars
(d) Joining the European Union
Explanation: Pakistan's current foreign policy doctrine emphasizes 'Geo-economics.' This involves leveraging Pakistan's location as a transit hub between Central Asia, China, and the Middle East to build economic partnerships rather than engaging in regional power rivalries.
#957
Which country remains Pakistan's largest export destination in 2024-2025?
(a) China
(b) United States
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) United Kingdom
Explanation: Despite political fluctuations, the United States remains the largest single-country market for Pakistani exports, particularly in the textile and IT sectors. Maintaining economic ties with the US is a vital component of Pakistan's 'Geo-economic' strategy.
#958
The 'Joint Communiqué' of the 2024 SCO Summit in Islamabad focused on:
(a) Declarations of war
(b) Regional stability, digital economy, and opposition to unilateral sanctions
(c) The abolition of regional trade
(d) Religious law
Explanation: The Islamabad declaration of the SCO (2024) emphasized multilateralism and rejected 'protectionist' trade measures. It highlighted the need for a more equitable global economic order and enhanced security cooperation among member states.
#959
Which Prime Minister of India traveled to Lahore by bus in February 1999 to sign a historic declaration aimed at peace?
(a) I. K. Gujral
(b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(c) Manmohan Singh
(d) Narendra Modi
Explanation: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's bus journey to Lahore resulted in the Lahore Declaration. The document emphasized the need for nuclear stability, confidence-building measures (CBMs), and a renewed commitment to the Simla Agreement, though the spirit was soon dampened by the Kargil conflict.
#960
Which aerial confrontation in February 2019 resulted in the downing of an Indian fighter jet and the brief capture of a pilot by Pakistan?
(a) The Kargil War
(b) Operation Swift Retort
(c) Operation Zarb-e-Azb
(d) The Rann of Kutch skirmish
Explanation: Following an Indian airstrike in Balakot, the Pakistan Air Force launched 'Operation Swift Retort' on February 27, 2019. During the encounter, an Indian MiG-21 was shot down, and pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was captured. He was later released by Pakistan as a 'gesture of peace'.