#1701

In the context of 2025, 'Interfaith Iftar' gatherings in Pakistan are used as a tool for:

(a) Cooking competitions only

(b) Diplomacy and fostering communal harmony during Ramadan

(c) Distributing voter ID cards

(d) Tax collection

Explanation: During the month of Ramadan, the government and various NGOs organize 'Interfaith Iftars' where Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs break bread together. These events are highly publicized in 2025 as part of the state's efforts to promote a narrative of inclusivity and to counter extremist ideologies by highlighting shared human and national values.

#1702

As of 2025, approximately how many children are estimated to be 'Out of School' (OOSC) in Pakistan?

(a) 10 Million

(b) 15 Million

(c) 26.2 Million

(d) 40 Million

Explanation: Pakistan faces a massive challenge with approximately 26.2 million out-of-school children. This figure makes Pakistan the country with the second-highest number of OOSC globally, a crisis that prompted the federal government to declare an 'Education Emergency' in 2024 to prioritize enrollment.

#1703

Which province has successfully implemented a 'Zero Dropout' pilot program in selected districts in 2025?

(a) Punjab

(b) Sindh

(c) KPK

(d) Balochistan

Explanation: The Punjab government launched a 'Zero Dropout' initiative in 2024-25, using digital tracking systems to monitor every student's attendance and intervening through social workers if a child stops attending school.

#1704

In 2025, the 'Education for All' goal in Pakistan is being challenged by which economic factor?

(a) Low population

(b) High inflation and increased cost of school supplies

(c) Too much government funding

(d) Low taxes

Explanation: Rising inflation has made uniforms, books, and transportation unaffordable for many families. This has led to a 'Child Labour' surge, as children are pulled from schools to help their families cope with the cost of living.

#1705

Which province introduced 'Entrepreneurship' as a mandatory subject in technical colleges in 2025?

(a) Sindh

(b) KPK

(c) Punjab

(d) Balochistan

Explanation: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) integrated entrepreneurship into its TEVTA curriculum in 2025 to encourage vocational graduates to start their own businesses rather than seeking government jobs.

#1706

The 'E-Transfer' policy for teachers in Punjab (2025) was designed to stop:

(a) Teaching science

(b) Political interference and bribery in teacher transfers

(c) Using the internet

(d) Retirement

Explanation: The E-Transfer system allows teachers to apply for transfers online based on merit and seniority. This transparent digital system has eliminated the 'Sifarish' (favoritism) culture that historically plagued the provincial education departments.

#1707

Which sector remains the largest employer of the labour force in Pakistan as of 2025?

(a) Industry

(b) Services

(c) Agriculture

(d) Information Technology

Explanation: Despite its declining share in the GDP, the Agriculture sector remains the largest employer in Pakistan, absorbing approximately 37.4% of the total labour force. It is the backbone of the rural economy and provides a livelihood for the majority of the female labour force in rural areas. However, there is a gradual structural shift occurring as the Services sector is now closely following as the second largest employer.

#1708

Which country remains the top destination for Pakistani migrant workers seeking employment abroad in 2024-2025?

(a) United Arab Emirates

(b) Saudi Arabia

(c) Qatar

(d) United Kingdom

Explanation: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) continues to be the primary destination for Pakistani labour migration, hosting over 50% of the workers who went abroad in the 2024-2025 period. This migration is facilitated by various bilateral agreements and the 'Vision 2030' projects in KSA, which require a massive influx of construction, hospitality, and technical workers from Pakistan.

#1709

The total workers' remittances received by Pakistan in FY 2024-2025 were approximately in what range?

(a) $15 - $20 Billion

(b) $20 - $25 Billion

(c) $29 - $32 Billion

(d) $45 - $50 Billion

Explanation: For the fiscal year 2024-2025, Pakistan's workers' remittances showed a resilient trend, hovering around the $30 billion mark (specifically projected between $29 and $32 billion based on SBP data). These remittances, primarily originating from KSA, UAE, UK, and USA, are the second most important source of foreign exchange after exports and are crucial for managing the Current Account Deficit.

#1710

The term 'Brain Drain' in Pakistan refers to the high migration rate of which group in 2024-2025?

(a) Unskilled construction workers

(b) Highly skilled professionals (Doctors, Engineers, IT experts)

(c) Subsistence farmers

(d) Retail shopkeepers

Explanation: Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in 'Brain Drain' in 2024 and 2025, with over 800,000 Pakistanis leaving the country in a single year, many of whom are highly skilled professionals. The migration of doctors, engineers, and software experts to Europe, North America, and the Gulf is driven by economic instability and the search for better career prospects, posing a long-term challenge to Pakistan's domestic human capital development.

#1711

What is the 'Minimum Wage' for unskilled workers in Pakistan for the fiscal year 2024-2025 (specifically for the federal and Punjab regions)?

(a) PKR 25,000

(b) PKR 30,000

(c) PKR 37,000

(d) PKR 50,000

Explanation: In the 2024-2025 budgets, the government increased the minimum wage for unskilled workers to PKR 37,000 per month. This increase was aimed at providing relief to low-income groups amidst high inflation. However, implementation remains a challenge, particularly in the informal sector where workers are often paid below the legal threshold.

#1712

The 'Youth Unemployment Rate' in Pakistan is highest among which educational group in 2025?

(a) Illiterate youth

(b) Primary school dropouts

(c) University graduates

(d) Vocational diploma holders

Explanation: A concerning trend in Pakistan's labour market is that the unemployment rate is highest among university graduates compared to those with less formal education. This is due to a 'mismatch' between the skills taught in higher education and the requirements of the modern industry, leading to thousands of overqualified individuals unable to find suitable jobs.

#1713

In 2025, which digital platform was integrated with BEOE to allow Pakistani workers to find overseas jobs directly?

(a) Pak-Overseas Link

(b) E-Migrant Portal

(c) Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) Online

(d) Naya Pakistan Job Bank

Explanation: The Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) has modernized its online portal to allow citizens to apply for government-to-government (G2G) jobs, such as those in South Korea and Japan, without the need for middlemen. This digital transformation in 2024-2025 has improved transparency and reduced the cost of migration for many workers.

#1714

What is the 'Age Composition' of Pakistan's labour force in 2025?

(a) Mostly elderly (above 60)

(b) Predominantly young (64% below the age of 30)

(c) Equally distributed

(d) Shrinking due to low birth rates

Explanation: Pakistan possesses a 'Young Labour Force,' with nearly two-thirds of the population and a huge chunk of the workforce being under the age of 30. This demographic dividend provides a massive window of economic opportunity if the youth are provided with quality education and skills, but it can also lead to social unrest if jobs are not created.

#1715

In 2025, which new sector was identified for potential migration of 'IT Professionals' from Pakistan to Japan and Germany?

(a) Coal Mining

(b) Software Engineering and Digital Services

(c) Traditional Farming

(d) Handicrafts

Explanation: Under recent 'Specified Skilled Worker' agreements with Japan and skilled migration laws in Germany, Pakistan has started sending IT professionals and healthcare workers. This marks a shift from exporting only physical labour to exporting 'Knowledge Labour' in the 2024-2025 period.

#1716

In 2025, which province introduced a digital 'Domestic Workers Registration' portal to protect home-based labourers?

(a) Balochistan

(b) Punjab

(c) Sindh

(d) KPK

Explanation: The Punjab government has been a leader in implementing the 'Domestic Workers Act'. In 2024-2025, it launched a digital portal and mobile app to register domestic help (maids, drivers, cooks). This registration provides them with social security benefits, fixed working hours, and protection against harassment.

#1717

In 2025, which group was identified as 'Climate Migrants' in Pakistan following the recent extreme weather events?

(a) Rich business owners

(b) Populations from the Indus Delta and glacial melt zones

(c) Foreign tourists

(d) Military personnel

Explanation: Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. In 2024-2025, internal migration has been increasingly driven by 'climate shocks,' such as sea-water intrusion in the Indus Delta and flash floods in the north. Thousands are moving to cities because their traditional agricultural lands have become saline or been washed away.

#1718

Which international boundary fencing has reduced 'cross-border daily wage labour' in the 2024-2025 period?

(a) Line of Control

(b) Pak-Afghan Border (Durand Line)

(c) Wagah Border

(d) Sino-Pak Border

Explanation: Historically, thousands of people crossed the Afghan border daily for trade and casual labour. However, with the completion of the border fence and the implementation of a 'One Document Regime' (Visa and Passport) in 2024-2025, this informal cross-border movement of labour has been strictly regulated for security reasons.

#1719

In 2024-2025, 'Digital Nomad' visas in other countries have allowed many Pakistani freelancers to:

(a) Stop working

(b) Live abroad while working for their global clients legally

(c) Join the army

(d) Become farmers

Explanation: The 'Digital Nomad' trend has seen many young Pakistani IT and creative professionals move to countries like Dubai, Portugal, or Thailand while keeping their Pakistani residency. This 'virtual migration' allows them to earn in dollars and provides them with global exposure, though the government is working to provide similar facilities within Pakistan's STZs.

#1720

What is the primary reason for 'Urbanization' in Pakistan as of 2025?

(a) People like big buildings

(b) Search for economic opportunities and better service delivery in cities

(c) To escape the cold

(d) Government orders

Explanation: Urbanization in Pakistan is 'Opportunity Driven'. The concentration of industries, universities, and specialized hospitals in cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad acts as a 'Pull Factor,' drawing millions from the neglected rural hinterlands who seek to join the formal and informal labour markets of the metropolises.

February 2025 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions