Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
41
The 'Taleem-e-Baalighan' program in Pakistan is specifically designed for:
Answer:
Adult literacy and non-formal education
Taleem-e-Baalighan refers to adult literacy programs. These initiatives target individuals who missed formal schooling in their childhood, providing them with basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills through community centers and evening classes.
42
What is the current literacy definition used by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics?
Answer:
Ability to read a newspaper and write a simple letter in any language
In Pakistan, a person is considered literate if they are 10 years of age or older and can read a newspaper and write a simple letter in any language. This definition is standard for the census and Labour Force Surveys to determine the functional literacy of the population.
43
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan was established in which year, replacing the University Grants Commission?
Answer:
2002
The HEC was established in 2002 under the leadership of Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman. It revolutionized higher education in Pakistan by significantly increasing funding, promoting research, and facilitating thousands of overseas scholarships for PhD candidates.
44
What is the primary objective of the 'Waseela-e-Taleem' program under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)?
Answer:
Conditional cash transfers to encourage school enrollment
Waseela-e-Taleem is a conditional cash transfer initiative. It provides financial incentives to BISP-eligible families on the condition that their children maintain at least a 70% attendance rate in school, effectively reducing the dropout rate among the poorest segments of society.
45
Which province has the lowest literacy rate in Pakistan as of the 2024-25 data?
Answer:
Balochistan
Balochistan remains at the bottom of the literacy rankings with a rate of approximately 44-46%. Severe geographic dispersion, lack of schools in remote areas, and security challenges have historically hindered educational progress in the province.
46
The 'National Curriculum Framework 2024' was introduced to replace and refine which previous initiative?
Answer:
Single National Curriculum (SNC)
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2024 was developed to evolve the previous Single National Curriculum (SNC). While the SNC aimed for uniformity, the NCF 2024 focuses on providing a more flexible, competency-based framework that provincial boards can adapt while maintaining a core national standard.
47
Which article of the Constitution of Pakistan makes it the state's responsibility to provide free and compulsory education to children aged 5 to 16?
Answer:
Article 25-A
Article 25-A was inserted into the Constitution via the 18th Amendment in 2010. It mandates that the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as may be determined by law, essentially making education a fundamental human right.
48
As of 2025, approximately how many children are estimated to be 'Out of School' (OOSC) in Pakistan?
Answer:
26.2 Million
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.
49
Which province of Pakistan currently maintains the highest literacy rate?
Answer:
Punjab
Punjab consistently leads among the provinces with a literacy rate of around 66-68%. This higher rate is attributed to better infrastructure, a higher concentration of educational institutions, and more aggressive provincial enrollment drives compared to the other provinces.
50
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, what is the estimated national literacy rate of Pakistan?
Answer:
62.8%
As of the 2024-25 reports, Pakistan's national literacy rate is estimated to be approximately 62.8%. While there has been a marginal improvement over the years, the rate remains one of the lowest in South Asia, hampered by high population growth and insufficient infrastructure in rural areas.