Current Affairs
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) recently enhanced its standoff reach and precision strike capabilities by launching the 'Taimoor' Cruise Missile. What is the official range of this indigenous weapon system?
A.
350 km
B.
450 km
C.
600 km
D.
750 km
Explanation:
The Taimoor Cruise Missile is an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) with a range of 600 km. It is designed to provide the Pakistan Air Force with deep-strike capabilities against both land and sea targets with high precision. This development is seen as a significant step in Pakistan's "Integrated Strike Strategy."
A historic and controversial event occurred on January 3, 2026, involving the military intervention of the United States in South America. Which sitting head of state was captured and transported to New York to face criminal charges?
A.
Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela)
B.
Miguel Díaz-Canel (Cuba)
C.
Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua)
D.
Gustavo Petro (Colombia)
Explanation:
On January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces (specifically Delta Force) launched Operation Absolute Resolve in Caracas, Venezuela. During the raid, President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured. They were subsequently transported to New York City to face a superseding indictment unsealed by the Department of Justice on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons violations. Following his removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela.
In January 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), to which specific role?
A.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability
B.
Coordinator for Religious Harmony and the Pakistani Diaspora
C.
Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination
D.
Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology
Explanation:
On January 1, 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi as his Coordinator for Religious Harmony and the Pakistani Diaspora in the Middle East and Muslim countries. This appointment is in an honorary capacity. His responsibilities include strengthening coordination with Islamic and Arab states, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and looking after the welfare of overseas Pakistanis in those regions.
The Third Strategic Dialogue between Japan and Qatar, held on January 13, 2026, in Doha, was notably marked by discussions on which critical sector?
A.
Agricultural exports and food security
B.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and energy security
C.
Space exploration and satellite technology
D.
Maritime boundary delimitation
Explanation:
The dialogue in Doha emphasized the strategic partnership in energy, particularly highlighting a long-term agreement for Japan to purchase 3 million tonnes of LNG annually for 27 years.
During his official visit to Morocco on January 12–14, 2026, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) primarily focused on:
A.
Free Trade and Economic Corridor development
B.
Transnational counter-terrorism operations
C.
Institutional framework for permanent defense cooperation
D.
Educational exchange and vocational training
Explanation:
During his visit to Rabat, Morocco, Khawaja Asif signed an MoU to establish an institutional framework for permanent defense links. This agreement covers military training, capacity building, and joint initiatives between Pakistan and Morocco.
The 5th edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), a global platform for the mining sector, was hosted in January 2026 in which city?
A.
Doha, Qatar
B.
Casablanca, Morocco
C.
Islamabad, Pakistan
D.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Explanation:
The Future Minerals Forum 2026 took place from January 13–15, 2026, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. The summit focused on the theme "Dawn of a Global Cause" and the role of minerals in the global energy transition.
In the context of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 expansion, which individual is the owner of the newly inducted 8th franchise, the Sialkot Stallionz?
A.
Ali Tareen
B.
Hamza Majeed
C.
Javed Afridi
D.
Salman Iqbal
Explanation:
Hamza Majeed, representing OZ Developers, acquired the ownership rights for the Sialkot Stallionz (the 8th PSL team) for a record-breaking PKR 1.85 billion during the auction held in January 2026.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, a seasoned Pakistani diplomat and former Foreign Secretary, officially assumed the office of Secretary-General of which international organization on January 1, 2026?
A.
D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation
B.
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
C.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
D.
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Explanation:
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood began his tenure as the Secretary-General of the D-8 (Developing-8) on January 1, 2026. He previously served as Pakistan's 30th Foreign Secretary (2019–2022) and Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
The 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) is scheduled to be held from March 26 to May 3. What is the most significant structural change introduced for this edition?
A.
The transition from a Twenty20 format to a T10 format
B.
The reduction of participating teams to four to shorten the window.
C.
The expansion of the league from six franchises to eight franchises.
D.
The decision to host the entire tournament outside of Pakistan.
Explanation:
PSL 11 marks a "New Era" for the league as it expands from six teams to eight for the first time. The two new teams added to the roster for the 2026 season are Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad. Additionally, in a major brand shift just announced in February 2026, the rights for the sixth franchise were acquired by Walee Technologies, who replaced the Multan Sultans identity with a new Rawalpindi-based franchise.
Apart from the record number of host countries, what is the most significant structural change introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
A.
The reduction of the total number of matches to 64.
B.
The debut of a "Round of 64" knockout stage.
C.
The expansion of the participating field from 32 to 48 teams.
D.
The elimination of automatic qualification for host nations.
Explanation:
The 2026 tournament, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will be the largest in history. FIFA has expanded the participating field from 32 to 48 teams, which increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104. All three host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States have been granted automatic qualification.
On December 23, 2025, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was officially privatized. Which entity emerged as the successful buyer of the national flag carrier?
A.
Lucky Group
B.
Blue World City Consortium
C.
Arif Habib-led consortium
D.
Yunus Brothers Group
Explanation:
After several rounds of bidding and restructuring, the Arif Habib-led consortium successfully acquired PIA on December 23, 2025. This group outpaced other interests by meeting the government's revised criteria for the airline's transition to the private sector.
Which specific route has been designated for the newly launched "Thar Desert Train Safari" by Pakistan Railways?
A.
Lahore to Bahawalpur (Cholistan)
B.
Karachi to Khokhrapar Zero Point
C.
Sukkur to Mohenjo-Daro
D.
Quetta to Chaman (Khojak Pass)
Explanation:
The Thar Desert Train Safari follows a scenic route starting from Karachi and traveling deep into the desert to Khokhrapar Zero Point (near the Pakistan-India border) before returning to Karachi. This route was specifically chosen to provide passengers with access to the unique landscapes and remote beauty of the Tharparkar region.
What is the official name of the "Made in Pakistan" match ball developed by Adidas for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
A.
Adidas Trionda
B.
Al Rihla
C.
Telstar 18
D.
Al Hilm
Explanation:
For the FIFA World Cup 2026, the official match ball has been named Adidas Trionda. Following the tradition of previous tournaments like the 2022 World Cup (Al Rihla) and 2014 (Brazuca), this ball features advanced aerodynamic technology and was officially unveiled for the tournament being hosted across North America. The Adidas Trionda is manufactured in Sialkot, Pakistan
The US State Department recently approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Pakistan for the sustainment and upgrade of its F-16 fighter jet fleet. What is the total estimated value of this deal?
A.
$450 Million
B.
$686 Million
C.
$825 Million
D.
$1.2 Billion
Explanation:
The United States has approved a $686 million package for Pakistan. This deal focuses on the "sustainment and modernization" of the existing F-16 fleet, ensuring the aircraft remain operationally capable for counter-terrorism efforts and regional defense without altering the basic military balance in the region.
Microsoft recently announced a historic investment in India, which is termed the "largest ever in Asia" by the tech giant. What is the total value of this investment?
A.
$10.5 Billion
B.
$15.0 Billion
C.
$20.0 Billion
D.
$17.5 Billion
Explanation:
Microsoft has committed $17.5 billion to expand its operations in India. This represents the company's single largest investment in the Asian region to date, focusing on building massive data centres and scaling cloud computing capabilities to meet the growing demand for digital services.
The planned collaboration between Pakistan and Türkiye for a domestic drone factory is primarily expected to focus on which aspect of military technology?
A.
Nuclear propulsion systems
B.
Deep-sea submarine cables
C.
Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
D.
Satellite-based internet constellations
Explanation:
The "drone factory" project specifically targets the production and maintenance of high-tech UAVs. Türkiye is a global leader in drone warfare (exemplified by the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci), and this factory will allow for the transfer of technology, enabling Pakistan to manufacture and potentially export these advanced systems.
On December 5, 2025, which world leader became the inaugural recipient of the "FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World"?
A.
Donald Trump
B.
Claudia Sheinbaum
C.
Mark Carney
D.
Narendra Modi
Explanation:
US President Donald Trump was awarded the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The ceremony took place during the Final Draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Washington, D.C., marking the first time the global football governing body has issued an annual award specifically for diplomatic peace efforts.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) recently dispatched a C-130 aircraft carrying a 47-member team and relief supplies to which South Asian country as part of a humanitarian assistance mission?
A.
Maldives
B.
Bangladesh
C.
Nepal
D.
Sri Lanka
Explanation:
Under the directives of the Government of Pakistan, the PAF sent a dedicated C-130 transport aircraft to Sri Lanka. This mission delivered essential humanitarian aid and a 47-member relief team to assist the local population, reinforcing the "Neighbourhood First" policy and the long-standing brotherly ties between Islamabad and Colombo.
The visit of President Prabowo Subianto (President of Indonesia) to Islamabad in December 2025 was primarily aimed at enhancing cooperation in which of the following sectors?
A.
Space exploration and satellite technology
B.
Bilateral trade, defense, and palm oil supply chains
C.
Cricket diplomacy and sports exchange
D.
Central Asian land-route connectivity
Explanation:
Indonesia is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in the ASEAN region and a primary supplier of edible oil. During President Subianto's visit, both nations focused on securing a stable supply of palm oil for Pakistan, exploring defense production joint ventures, and increasing Pakistani exports to the Indonesian market to balance the trade deficit.
Which Central Asian leader arrived in Islamabad for a high-profile two-day official visit on December 3, 2025?
A.
Emomali Rahmon
B.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
C.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
D.
Sadyr Zhaparov
Explanation:
President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan visited Pakistan from December 3 to December 4, 2025. The visit was aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and regional connectivity, particularly focusing on the CASA-1000 power project and the Trans-Afghan railway.
In a move to promote tourism, Pakistan recently installed the world’s largest sculpture of its national animal, the Markhor. What is the height of this monument?
A.
75 feet
B.
90 feet
C.
105 feet
D.
120 feet
Explanation:
The sculpture stands at a towering height of 105 feet, making it the largest Markhor monument in the world. It was designed to serve as a major landmark and a symbol of wildlife conservation in Kaghan Valley (Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Pakistan.
Which country is currently constructing the Rogfast Tunnel, which is set to become the world’s longest and deepest undersea road tunnel?
A.
Norway
B.
Japan
C.
Iceland
D.
United Kingdom
Explanation:
Norway is building the Rogfast Tunnel as part of the "Ferry-Free E39" project. This massive engineering feat is designed to replace ferry crossings along the western coast, significantly reducing travel time between cities like Stavanger and Bergen.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, was recently elected as the Chairman of which influential regional body's Council of Ministers?
A.
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
B.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
C.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
D.
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
Explanation:
Senator Ishaq Dar was elected as the Chairman of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s Council of Ministers (ECO-COM). The COM is the highest policy and decision-making body of the ECO, comprising the Foreign Ministers of the member states, and Pakistan's chairmanship signifies its lead role in regional economic integration.
Who recently made history by becoming the world's youngest university chancellor at the age of 29?
A.
Arfa Karim
B.
Shahzeb Awan
C.
Malala Yousafzai
D.
Babar Iqbal
Explanation:
Shahzeb Awan achieved a global milestone by being appointed as a university chancellor at just 29 years old. This feat highlights the inclusion of young leadership in the higher education sector, setting a new international record for the youngest individual to hold such a prestigious administrative position.
What was the primary catalyst that led Armenia to suspend its multi-billion dollar Tejas Jet deal with India?
A.
Diplomatic pressure from Azerbaijan
B.
Better financing options offered by France
C.
A crash involving the aircraft during the Dubai Airshow 2025
D.
Delays in the delivery of the BrahMos missile system
Explanation:
The suspension was triggered specifically by a crash involving a Tejas jet during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025. The incident raised immediate red flags regarding the aircraft's safety protocols and technical integrity, prompting the Armenian government to halt the procurement process pending a full investigation into the cause of the failure.