AJKPSC Test General Knowledge III (Pakistan Affairs) Syllabus

Who imposed the first martial law in Pakistan and when?

President Iskander Mirza imposed the first martial law on 7 October 1958, and General Ayub Khan soon took over as Chief Martial Law Administrator, later becoming President.

What were the main causes of the separation of East Pakistan in 1971?

Economic disparity between the two wings, political under-representation of the Bengali majority, the language issue, denial of power to the Awami League after its 1970 election victory, and the resulting military action and civil war.

What was the outcome of the 1970 general elections, and how did it relate to East Pakistan's separation?

The Awami League (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) won a majority based almost entirely on East Pakistan seats, while the PPP (Bhutto) dominated the West. Failure to transfer power to the Awami League triggered the crisis leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

What were Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Six Points?

A demand for maximum provincial autonomy: a federal parliamentary structure; federal control limited to defence and foreign affairs; separate currencies/fiscal policy; provincial taxation powers; separate foreign exchange accounts; and a militia/paramilitary force for each wing.

When did East Pakistan become Bangladesh, and what agreement followed the 1971 war?

Bangladesh came into being on 16 December 1971. The Simla Agreement (1972) between Bhutto and Indira Gandhi followed, leading to the return of prisoners of war and territory.

What type of federation is Pakistan, and what are the two houses of its Parliament?

Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic. Its bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) consists of the National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).

How are members of the National Assembly and the Senate selected?

National Assembly members are directly elected for a five-year term; Senators are indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and others for a six-year term (half retiring every three years), giving equal provincial representation.

What is the significance of the 18th Amendment (2010) to Pakistan's federal structure?

It enhanced provincial autonomy by abolishing the Concurrent Legislative List, transferring many subjects to provinces, renamed NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and curtailed presidential powers, strengthening the parliamentary system.

What are the three tiers of Pakistan's local government system?

Generally a three-tier system: Union Councils (lowest/grassroots), Tehsil/Town Councils (intermediate), and District Councils/Zila level (top), though structures vary by province.

What was the 'Basic Democracies' system and who introduced it?

A local government system introduced by Ayub Khan in 1959, creating tiers of elected councils with about 80,000 'Basic Democrats' who also acted as an electoral college to elect the President.

What is the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) and what replaced it?

The CSP was the elite administrative cadre inherited from the British Indian Civil Service. It was abolished by the 1973 Administrative Reforms under Bhutto and replaced by the All-Pakistan Unified Grades and occupational groups recruited via the CSS examination.

Which body conducts recruitment to the federal civil service in Pakistan?

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), through the Central Superior Services (CSS) competitive examination.

What is the backbone of Pakistan's economy, and what share of the labour force does it employ?

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, contributing around one-fifth of GDP and employing roughly 38-40 percent of the labour force.

Name the major crops of Pakistan divided into Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Kharif (summer-sown) crops include cotton, rice, sugarcane and maize. Rabi (winter-sown) crops include wheat, gram and barley. Wheat is the staple food crop.

What are Pakistan's main large-scale industries?

Textiles (the largest), cement, sugar, fertilizer, steel, leather goods, sports goods, surgical instruments and food processing. Textiles dominate exports.

What are Pakistan's leading exports and imports?

Leading exports: textiles, cotton, rice, leather and sports goods. Leading imports: petroleum/oil, machinery, chemicals, edible oil and iron/steel.

What are the main natural/mineral resources of Pakistan?

Natural gas, coal (notably Thar coalfield), copper and gold (Reko Diq, Saindak), rock salt (Khewra), gypsum, limestone, chromite and crude oil.

What is the purpose of Five-Year Plans in Pakistan's economic planning, and which body oversees them?

Five-Year Plans set targets for economic growth and development across sectors. The Planning Commission of Pakistan formulates and oversees them, while the National Economic Council approves overall economic policy.

Name three major economic challenges facing Pakistan.

Persistent fiscal and trade deficits, high external debt, inflation, low tax-to-GDP ratio, energy shortages (circular debt), and population pressure on resources.

What is the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award?

A constitutional mechanism (Article 160) under which federal tax revenue is distributed between the federation and provinces, with the share decided periodically by the NFC; the 7th NFC Award (2010) increased the provincial share to about 57.5 percent.

What are the official and national languages of Pakistan?

Urdu is the national language and English is the official language. Urdu serves as the lingua franca though it is the mother tongue of a minority.

List the major regional languages of Pakistan by approximate number of speakers.

Punjabi (largest, around 38-44 percent), Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, Urdu, Balochi and Hindko/Brahui among others.

What is the religious composition of Pakistan?

Pakistan is overwhelmingly Muslim (about 96 percent), predominantly Sunni with a Shia minority. Religious minorities include Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis, Sikhs and Parsis (roughly 4 percent combined).

What are the main objectives of Pakistan's foreign policy?

Protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity, promotion of national economic interests, friendly relations with all states (especially the Muslim world and neighbours), support for the Kashmir cause, peaceful coexistence, and adherence to the UN Charter.

Which alliances did Pakistan join during the Cold War, and which key bilateral relationships shape its foreign policy?

Pakistan joined SEATO (1954) and CENTO/Baghdad Pact (1955). Key relationships include close ties with China and the USA, tense relations with India, and strong links with Saudi Arabia and the broader Muslim world (OIC).

Describe the main physical features (relief regions) of Pakistan.

Northern high mountains (Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush), the western Balochistan plateau and Sulaiman/Kirthar ranges, the Potohar Plateau, the fertile Indus plain, and the desert areas (Thar, Cholistan, Thal).

What is the highest peak in Pakistan and where is it located?

K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen), at 8,611 metres the second-highest in the world, located in the Karakoram range in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Describe the climate types found in Pakistan.

Pakistan has mainly an arid to semi-arid climate with four seasons: cool dry winter, hot dry spring, the summer monsoon (rainy season) and the retreating monsoon in autumn. Climate ranges from alpine in the north to desert in the south.

Name the five major rivers of Punjab and the main river of Pakistan.

The Indus is the main river. The five rivers of Punjab are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (the Indus and its tributaries form the Indus Basin).

Name Pakistan's major dams and the rivers on which they are built.

Tarbela Dam on the Indus (largest), Mangla Dam on the Jhelum, Warsak Dam on the Kabul River, and the under-construction Diamer-Bhasha Dam on the Indus. They provide irrigation, water storage and hydroelectricity.

What is the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) and which rivers did it allocate to each country?

A water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank. The eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) were allocated to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan.

What are the four provinces of Pakistan and their capitals?

Punjab (Lahore), Sindh (Karachi), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar), and Balochistan (Quetta). Balochistan is the largest by area and Punjab the most populous.

Besides the four provinces, what administrative units make up Pakistan, and what is its capital?

Islamabad Capital Territory (the national capital), Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (administered with a special status). The former FATA was merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.