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
1
Which body is responsible for ensuring that the 'Decisions of the CCI' are implemented in true spirit?
Answer:
The Senate and its functional committees
The Senate of Pakistan, through its Standing and Functional Committees (specifically the Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination), monitors the implementation status of CCI decisions to ensure that the provinces' rights are not being neglected.
2
The 1973 Constitution originally provided for the CCI. Why was it not effective until 2010?
Answer:
Frequent military rules and a centralized political culture bypassed the council
During periods of martial law or highly centralized civilian rule, the federal government preferred unilateral decision-making. The lack of a mandatory meeting timeframe in the original 1973 text also allowed the center to ignore the council until the 18th amendment fixed these flaws.
3
Which of the following describes the relationship between the CCI and 'Foreign Investment' (BoI)?
Answer:
The Board of Investment (BoI) is under the policy oversight of the CCI
To ensure that foreign investment is distributed fairly and that provinces are ready to host such projects, the BoI was placed under the oversight of the CCI, particularly for large-scale projects like CPEC.
4
The CCI can be described as a 'Constitutional Arbitrator'. What does this mean?
Answer:
It settles disputes between the federating units as a constitutional requirement
As an arbitrator, the CCI provides a non-judicial, political forum to settle differences between the center and provinces, preventing every federal dispute from ending up in a lengthy court battle.
5
Which of these subjects was recently debated in the CCI regarding 'National Standards' for food and drugs?
Answer:
National Health Standards
Post-18th amendment, health was devolved. However, the CCI has been used to discuss 'National Health Standards' to ensure that drugs and food items meet a certain quality level across all provincial borders for public safety.
6
If the CCI is unable to resolve a water dispute, the President can appoint a commission under Article 155. Who heads this commission usually?
Answer:
A person with knowledge of water and engineering
Article 155 allows the President to appoint a commission of experts to investigate water complaints. This ensures that technical disputes are handled by specialists before a final political or legal decision is made.
7
Which of the following is true about the 'Voting Rights' in the CCI?
Answer:
All eight members have one equal vote
Every member of the CCI, whether the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister, or a Federal Minister, has one vote. This structural equality is meant to reflect the federal spirit of the council.
8
What is the role of the Senate of Pakistan regarding the CCI?
Answer:
The Senate reviews the annual reports of the CCI to protect provincial rights
The Senate, being the House of the Federation, plays a oversight role. The CCI reports are laid before the Senate, where members can scrutinize whether the council is effectively protecting the interests of their respective provinces.
9
The CCI's jurisdiction over 'Natural Gas' includes which of the following?
Answer:
Development, policy, and distribution issues
As a subject in Part II, natural gas policy (including the 'weighted average cost of gas' or WACOG) is a matter for the CCI, as it involves significant inter-provincial resource sharing and equity issues.
10
Who can represent a province in the CCI if the Chief Minister is unable to attend?
Answer:
A provincial minister nominated by the CM
Rules of Procedure allow a Chief Minister to nominate a senior member of the provincial cabinet to represent the province in case of unavoidable absence, ensuring the provincial viewpoint is still heard.