May 2025 Edition
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May 2025 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions
Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.
#1721
In the context of 2025, 'Barter Trade' between Pakistan and Iran has been proposed to overcome which major hurdle?
(a) Language barriers
(b) The lack of banking channels due to international sanctions
(c) Religious differences
(d) The lack of trucks
Explanation: Because traditional banking transactions with Iran are restricted by US and international sanctions, Pakistan has explored 'Barter Trade' (exchanging goods like Pakistani rice for Iranian petroleum or electricity). This mechanism allows both countries to maintain economic ties without triggering financial penalties.
#1722
In 2025, which city hosted the 22nd session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission (JEC)?
(a) Lahore
(b) Islamabad
(c) Tehran
(d) Karachi
Explanation: The JEC is the primary mechanism for discussing economic and trade cooperation. Recent sessions in Tehran have focused on removing non-tariff barriers, finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and implementing the border market strategy to boost bilateral commerce.
#1723
In the current 2024-2025 period, what is the primary export of Pakistan to Iran?
(a) Crude oil
(b) Rice, Textiles, and Fruits (like Mangoes)
(c) Nuclear technology
(d) Heavy machinery
Explanation: Agriculture forms the backbone of Pakistan's exports to Iran. Rice is the single largest item, and there is high demand for Pakistani textiles and seasonal fruits. In return, Pakistan primarily imports electricity, gas, and chemical products from Iran.
#1724
How did Pakistan respond to the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May 2024?
(a) With indifference
(b) By declaring a national day of mourning and sending a high-level delegation to the funeral
(c) By closing the border
(d) By joining the Israeli cabinet
Explanation: In a show of solidarity and respect for the late President who had visited Pakistan only weeks prior, Pakistan declared a day of mourning and flew the national flag at half-mast. PM Shahbaz Sharif and other leaders attended the memorial services, emphasizing the personal and state-level bond.
#1725
What is the status of the 'Free Trade Agreement' (FTA) between Pakistan and Iran as of late 2025?
(a) It was cancelled in 2020
(b) It is in the final stages of negotiation following the 2024 Presidential visit
(c) Pakistan has banned all trade
(d) It only applies to Balochistan
Explanation: Following President Raisi's visit in 2024, both nations fast-tracked the draft of the FTA. The goal is to remove tariff barriers and provide a legal framework for the $10 billion trade target, although banking channel limitations remain a structural hurdle.
#1726
In 2025, Pakistan and Iran agreed to cooperate on which new high-tech sector?
(a) Time travel
(b) Information Technology and Digital Economy
(c) Building wooden ships
(d) Printing newspapers only
Explanation: Reflecting modern trends, the 2024-2025 bilateral agenda includes cooperation in the IT sector. This involves sharing expertise in e-governance and explores the potential for joint tech startups, as both nations look to modernize their economies.
#1727
In early 2025, which city hosted the 'Pak-Iran Digital Investment Summit'?
(a) Beijing
(b) Islamabad
(c) Shenzhen
(d) Tehran
Explanation: Islamabad hosted the summit to explore venture capital and startup opportunities between the two nations. The event focused on leveraging the youth bulge in both countries to drive innovation in the digital sphere.
#1728
Which Pakistani official visited Tehran in early 2025 to discuss 'Azm-e-Istehkam' and regional security?
(a) The Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
(b) The Education Minister
(c) The Mayor of Lahore
(d) The head of NADRA
Explanation: High-level military-to-military engagement is a constant in the relationship. The COAS or senior military leadership frequently visits Tehran to coordinate on counter-terrorism and ensure that the border remains a bridge rather than a point of conflict.
#1729
Which agreement, signed in May 1954, served as the first formal military pact between Pakistan and the United States?
(a) Baghdad Pact
(b) Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement
(c) SEATO Treaty
(d) Simla Agreement
Explanation: The Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement was signed in May 1954. Under this pact, the U.S. agreed to provide military equipment and training to Pakistan. This agreement was the cornerstone of Pakistan's integration into the U.S.-led security umbrella in Asia, aimed at containing the spread of communism.
#1730
The U.S. Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011 took place in which Pakistani city?
(a) Peshawar
(b) Abbottabad
(c) Rawalpindi
(d) Quetta
Explanation: Operation Neptune Spear was carried out on May 2, 2011, in the city of Abbottabad. The unilateral U.S. action was seen by Pakistan as a violation of its sovereignty and led to a deep trust deficit, as the U.S. questioned how the Al-Qaeda leader had lived undetected near a major military academy.
#1731
What is the current status of the U.S. as a trading partner for Pakistan in the 2024-2025 fiscal period?
(a) It is the 5th largest partner
(b) It is the largest single-country export destination for Pakistan
(c) It has been replaced by China in all trade
(d) Trade has been suspended since 2021
Explanation: The United States remains Pakistan's largest single-country export market, particularly for textiles, leather, and IT services. Maintaining this economic link is a vital component of Pakistan's 'Geo-economic' strategy, even as the two nations navigate strategic differences over regional security.
#1732
The 'Special Investment Facilitation Council' (SIFC) in Pakistan has sought to engage U.S. investors primarily in which sector in 2025?
(a) Defense
(b) Information Technology and Minerals
(c) Textile manufacturing only
(d) Nuclear energy
Explanation: The SIFC is a hybrid forum intended to attract foreign investment. In late 2024 and 2025, Pakistan actively pitched projects in IT, green energy, and the mining of critical minerals to U.S. companies, seeking to shift the bilateral relationship from 'aid' to 'investment-based' partnership.
#1733
In 2025, the U.S. remains a key partner for Pakistan in the eradication of which disease?
(a) Malaria
(b) Polio
(c) Dengue
(d) Scurvy
Explanation: Through agencies like USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. provides extensive funding and technical support for Pakistan's Polio Eradication Program. This 'health diplomacy' is a consistent and non-controversial part of the bilateral relationship.
#1734
Which Pakistani city hosted the 'U.S.-Pakistan Digital Investment Summit' in early 2025?
(a) Karachi
(b) Islamabad
(c) Lahore
(d) Silicon Valley (USA)
Explanation: Islamabad hosted the Digital Investment Summit in 2025 to showcase Pakistan's tech startup ecosystem to American venture capitalists. The event highlighted the growing exports of Pakistani software to the U.S. market, which reached over $1 billion in annual revenue.
#1735
Which Pakistani city was declare as South Asia's cleanest city in 2025, a point of pride often mentioned in U.S.-Pakistan urban development forums?
(a) Lahore
(b) Islamabad
(c) Peshawar
(d) Karachi
Explanation: Islamabad was ranked as the cleanest city in South Asia in 2025. This achievement was highlighted in environmental forums where the U.S. provides technical assistance for waste management and 'Green City' initiatives.
#1736
In 2025, what is the 'One-Word' shift in Pakistan's foreign policy doctrine that the U.S. has cautiously welcomed?
(a) Militarization
(b) Geo-economics
(c) Isolationism
(d) Communalism
Explanation: Pakistan's shift toward 'Geo-economics' means it wants to prioritize trade and transit connectivity over regional power politics. The U.S. supports this vision as it promotes regional stability and offers an alternative to the purely security-centric narrative of the past.
#1737
The 'Cyber Security' cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan in 2024-2025 focuses on protecting which sector?
(a) Social media accounts
(b) Financial institutions and critical infrastructure
(c) Online gaming
(d) Movie theaters
Explanation: With the rise of digital threats, the U.S. has provided training to Pakistani officials and banking professionals on defending against cyber-attacks. This is part of the broader 'Digital Pakistan' initiative supported by American tech expertise.
#1738
In early 2025, Pakistan and Russia discussed cooperation in which new high-tech sector during a joint commission meeting?
(a) Renewable Energy
(b) Space Exploration and Satellite Technology
(c) Automobile manufacturing
(d) Textile dyes
Explanation: As of 2025, the Pak-Russia relationship has expanded into space cooperation. Both nations are exploring joint ventures in satellite technology and sharing data for disaster management and climate monitoring, moving beyond the traditional energy and defense sectors.
#1739
Which Pakistani city was declared as South Asia's cleanest city in 2025, a point of discussion in regional environmental forums attended by Russia?
(a) Islamabad
(b) Lahore
(c) Peshawar
(d) Karachi
Explanation: Islamabad secured the top spot as the cleanest city in South Asia in 2025. This achievement has been highlighted in various regional forums as a model for urban sustainability and green governance.
#1740
What is the name of the Russian-built multi-mission satellite technology being discussed with Pakistan in 2025?
(a) Sputnik-P
(b) PakSat-MM2
(c) Glonass Coordination
(d) Soyuz Link
Explanation: In 2025, Pakistan and Russia have discussed the integration and use of GLONASS (Russian Global Navigation Satellite System) for civilian applications in Pakistan, including transport, agriculture, and urban planning.