#1061

In the 2024-2025 period, the majority of 'informal' trade between Pakistan and India is routed through which third country?

(a) Afghanistan

(b) United Arab Emirates (Dubai)

(c) China

(d) Iran

Explanation: Due to the suspension of direct bilateral trade since 2019, most essential goods and commercial trade are routed through Dubai and other third countries. This 'circular trade' is significantly more expensive but continues to fulfill regional demand in both nations.

#1062

The 2024-2025 economic strategy under the SIFC views 'Nuclear Energy' as a way to achieve:

(a) High-cost power

(b) Long-term affordable and sustainable industrial growth

(c) Banning the IMF

(d) Moving the capital to Karachi

Explanation: The SIFC's energy pillar focuses on reducing the cost of doing business. By investing in large-scale nuclear projects like C-5, Pakistan aims to provide cheap, stable electricity to its special economic zones (SEZs), making its exports more competitive globally.

#1063

In March 2024, a deadly attack in Besham targeted engineers from which country, creating a major security challenge for Pakistan's foreign policy?

(a) United States

(b) China

(c) Russia

(d) Japan

Explanation: The attack on Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydropower project in Besham was a severe blow to the security environment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It forced the Pakistani government to further tighten the Special Security Division's (SSD) protocols and reassure Beijing of the safety of its nationals, which is vital for CPEC Phase II investments.

#1064

What is the name of the new counter-terrorism campaign launched by the Pakistani government in June 2024?

(a) Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad

(b) Operation Azm-e-Istehkam

(c) Operation Sentinel

(d) Operation Rah-e-Haq

Explanation: Operation Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability) was approved by the Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in mid-2024. This campaign is not just a military offensive but an integrated national effort combining intelligence-based operations with socio-economic measures to eliminate the re-emerging threat of TTP and other extremist groups.

#1065

The 'One Document Regime,' implemented by Pakistan in 2024 at its western borders, requires Afghan nationals to possess what for entry?

(a) Only a Tazkira (local ID)

(b) A valid Passport and Visa

(c) A letter from a tribal elder

(d) A special border pass

Explanation: To curb illegal crossings and smuggling, Pakistan ended the decades-old practice of allowing local tribes to cross the border on local IDs. In 2024, the state strictly implemented the 'One Document Regime,' mandating valid passports and visas for all travelers. This move is part of the broader policy to secure the Durand Line and document all entries to prevent militant infiltration.

#1066

In January 2024, Pakistan launched 'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar' against militant hideouts in which neighboring country?

(a) Afghanistan

(b) Iran

(c) India

(d) Uzbekistan

Explanation: Following an Iranian missile strike in Balochistan, Pakistan responded with targeted strikes on January 18, 2024, against hideouts of Baloch separatist groups (Sarmachars) in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province. This rare military exchange highlighted the challenge of managing non-state actors along the 909 km border, though both nations quickly moved toward diplomatic de-escalation.

#1067

What is the total value of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved by the IMF for Pakistan in September 2024, which includes governance and security-related structural reforms?

(a) $3 Billion

(b) $5 Billion

(c) $7 Billion

(d) $9 Billion

Explanation: In September 2024, the IMF approved a 37-month EFF worth approximately $7 billion. A prerequisite for this program was the assurance of political and security stability, as the IMF often links economic bailouts to the state's ability to maintain a secure environment for trade and fiscal discipline.

#1068

Which term is used by the Pakistani state in 2024-2025 to officially describe the TTP, meaning 'troublemakers who have left the path'?

(a) Mujahideen

(b) Fitna al-Khawarij

(c) Separatists

(d) Freedom Fighters

Explanation: In 2024, the government and military officially adopted the term 'Fitna al-Khawarij' for the TTP. This narrative shift aims to delegitimize the group's Islamic credentials and highlight their role as internal destabilizers who misuse religion for terrorism, a message frequently communicated to the OIC and other Islamic nations.

#1069

Which Pakistani official visited Washington in March 2024 to attend the U.S.-Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue?

(a) The President

(b) The Foreign Minister and senior security officials

(c) The Mayor of Lahore

(d) The head of NADRA

Explanation: The March 2024 CT Dialogue in Washington focused on shared threats like ISIS-K and TTP. These high-level meetings signify that despite strategic differences on other issues, security and counter-terrorism remain the most functional pillar of Pak-U.S. bilateral relations.

#1070

In the 2024-2025 fiscal period, the majority of Pakistan's security challenges originate from which border?

(a) Eastern Border (India)

(b) Western Border (Afghanistan)

(c) Southern Coastline

(d) Northern Border (China)

Explanation: While the eastern border remains tense, the most active kinetic threats in 2024 and 2025 come from the western border. The surge in attacks by the TTP and IS-K from Afghan soil has forced Pakistan to refocus its military and diplomatic energy on Kabul and the border management system.

#1071

The 26th Constitutional Amendment (2024) introduced 'Constitutional Benches' which are seen as a way to prioritize:

(a) Land disputes

(b) Constitutional and political matters separately from regular litigation

(c) Divorce cases

(d) Tax collection

Explanation: The 26th Amendment was a significant legal reform that shifted the focus of high-level judicial interpretive power to specialized benches. This is seen by the state as a move toward a more predictable and less activist judiciary, which is essential for political and security stability.

#1072

In late 2024, Pakistan hosted which major international gathering for the first time in nearly two decades, requiring a high-security 'lockdown' of Islamabad?

(a) SAARC Summit

(b) SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting

(c) OIC Summit

(d) UN Climate Summit

Explanation: Pakistan hosted the 23rd SCO CHG meeting in October 2024. The presence of leaders from Russia, China, and Central Asia (and the visit of the Indian Foreign Minister) was a massive protocol and security challenge, which the state successfully managed to signal that the capital is secure.

#1073

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). This program was contingent upon Pakistan securing external financing assurances from bilateral partners like China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, reflecting a high-stakes exercise in economic diplomacy.

#1074

During a high-level summit in Islamabad in October 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed 27 MoUs and agreements worth how much?

(a) $1.2 Billion

(b) $2.2 Billion

(c) $5.0 Billion

(d) $10.0 Billion

Explanation: A high-level Saudi investment delegation, led by the Minister for Investment, visited Islamabad in October 2024 and signed 27 agreements worth $2.2 billion. These deals cover sectors like construction, agriculture, energy, and mining, marking a significant milestone in transitioning the bilateral relationship from financial aid to a comprehensive economic partnership.

#1075

The second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), prioritized in 2024-2025, focuses primarily on:

(a) Road construction only

(b) Industrialization, Agriculture, and B2B cooperation

(c) Building new dams

(d) Abolishing all trade tariffs

Explanation: CPEC Phase II marks a strategic transition from government-to-government infrastructure projects to business-to-business (B2B) cooperation. The current focus includes the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), agricultural modernization, and relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan, aiming to boost the country's export manufacturing base.

#1076

Which UAE-based logistics giant signed a 25-year concession agreement in 2023-2024 to operate the Karachi Gateway Terminal?

(a) DP World

(b) AD Ports Group

(c) Etisalat

(d) Emaar

Explanation: The Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group signed a landmark 25-year agreement to develop and operate the container terminal at Karachi Port. This multi-million dollar investment is a key example of 'Port Diplomacy,' where Pakistan leverages its strategic maritime location to integrate into global supply chains and generate non-tax revenue.

#1077

Which country provided a $2 billion liquidity support (loan rollover) in early 2024 to help Pakistan maintain its foreign exchange reserves?

(a) United States

(b) China

(c) Russia

(d) Japan

Explanation: China rolled over a $2 billion loan in March 2024 to stabilize Pakistan's dwindling foreign exchange reserves. Such 'financial diplomacy' from Beijing has been critical in providing the 'external financing' required by the IMF to maintain Pakistan's creditworthiness and avoid a sovereign default.

#1078

Which high-ranking Malaysian official visited Pakistan in October 2024 to discuss increasing bilateral trade in rice and Halal products?

(a) Mahathir Mohamad

(b) Anwar Ibrahim

(c) Najib Razak

(d) Muhyiddin Yassin

Explanation: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit to Islamabad in 2024 focused on expanding commercial ties beyond traditional areas. Both nations agreed to explore the potential of the global Halal economy, with Malaysia expressing interest in importing more Pakistani rice and meat products.

#1079

In 2023-2024, Pakistan launched a major drive to curb 'Informal Trade' and smuggling along which border to protect its domestic revenue?

(a) Eastern Border (India)

(b) Western Border (Afghanistan and Iran)

(c) Northern Border (China)

(d) Maritime Boundary

Explanation: Smuggling through the transit trade routes with Afghanistan and the illegal influx of petroleum from Iran cost the national exchequer billions. Under the SIFC's direction, the state implemented a strict 'One Document Regime' and enhanced border enforcement to move these transactions into formal, taxable economic channels.

#1080

The term 'Economic Diplomacy' in Pakistan's 2024-2025 doctrine is summarized as a shift from:

(a) Trade to Aid

(b) Geopolitics to Geoeconomics

(c) Industry to Agriculture only

(d) East to West

Explanation: The 'Geoeconomic shift' implies that Pakistan wants to leverage its location as a land-bridge and a transit hub for trade between Central Asia, China, and the Middle East. This policy aims to prioritize trade, connectivity, and investment over regional power rivalries and security-based alliances.

January 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions