Pakistan Affairs MCQs – Page 28 (Q271-280)

The Durand Line agreement was signed between the British government and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the Afghan ruler, in 1893, establishing the boundary between British India and Afghanistan. Negotiated by British diplomat Sir Mortimer Durand, after whom the line is named, the agreement was intended to demarcate spheres of influence during a period of intense British-Russian rivalry in Central Asia known as the 'Great Game'. Successive Afghan governments have periodically disputed the line's legitimacy as a permanent international border, a position that has persisted since Pakistan inherited the boundary at independence in 1947. The line continues to divide Pashtun tribal populations, contributing to ongoing cross-border security and political tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz lies off the coast near Gwadar, a critically important waterway for global oil shipping through which a large share of the world's seaborne petroleum passes en route from the Persian Gulf. Gwadar's proximity to this strategic chokepoint is a major reason for its development as a deep-sea port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, offering China a potential alternative route bypassing the longer and more vulnerable Strait of Malacca. The strait separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula and has long been a flashpoint in regional geopolitics due to its economic significance. Gwadar's location gives Pakistan a strategically valuable position near one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.

Tarbela Lake is the largest man-made lake in Pakistan by volume, formed by the Tarbela Dam on the Indus River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, completed in 1976. The reservoir plays a central role in irrigation for Punjab and Sindh's agricultural belt, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation for the national grid. Mangla Lake, formed by the Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River, ranks as Pakistan's second-largest reservoir by comparison. Sedimentation has gradually reduced Tarbela's storage capacity since its completion, prompting ongoing discussions about new dam projects, including the planned Diamer-Bhasha Dam, to address Pakistan's long-term water storage needs.

Rawal Lake, a major source of water for Islamabad and Rawalpindi, is fed primarily by the Kurang River, along with several smaller seasonal streams flowing from the nearby Margalla Hills. Built in the 1960s alongside the construction of Islamabad, the reservoir supplies drinking water to the twin cities and also serves as a popular recreational spot for boating and picnicking. The lake sits at the base of the Margalla Hills National Park, making it a scenic feature within easy reach of the capital. Concerns over pollution and reduced water levels in recent years have periodically raised questions about the lake's long-term capacity to meet the growing water needs of the two cities.

The Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world, connects Pakistan with China, running roughly 1,300 kilometres from Hasan Abdal in Punjab through Gilgit-Baltistan to the Khunjerab Pass at the Chinese border. Completed in 1979 after nearly two decades of construction through extremely difficult high-altitude terrain, it is often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' for the engineering challenges its builders overcame. The highway has become a key symbol of Pakistan-China friendship and now forms part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project under China's wider Belt and Road Initiative. It also opened previously isolated northern regions like Hunza and Gilgit to tourism and trade.

Skardu, a popular tourist gateway to K2 and other peaks, is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, serving as the main base for expeditions into the Karakoram range, including K2, the world's second-highest mountain. The town sits along the Indus River in a broad valley surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, and has become an increasingly popular domestic and international tourism hub in recent years. Skardu is also near Satpara Lake, an important source of drinking water for the town, and serves as a jumping-off point for treks to Deosai National Park. The town's airport, offering flights from major Pakistani cities, has significantly boosted accessibility for tourists visiting the region.

The Shandur Pass, home to the world's highest polo ground, connects Chitral with Gilgit, situated at an elevation of over 3,700 metres in the mountains between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The pass hosts the annual Shandur Polo Festival, a centuries-old tradition where teams from Chitral and Gilgit compete in a fiercely contested rivalry match played on the high-altitude ground. Often described as the 'Roof of the World', the pass remains snow-covered for much of the year, accessible only during the summer months. The festival draws both domestic and international visitors, showcasing the region's traditional freestyle polo, distinct from the modern regulated version of the sport.

The Shandur Pass, at an elevation of over 3,700 metres, is often called the 'Roof of the World', connecting Chitral with Gilgit in the mountains of northern Pakistan. It is famous for hosting the world's highest polo ground, where the annual Shandur Polo Festival features a traditional rivalry match between teams from Chitral and Gilgit. The pass remains snow-covered and largely inaccessible for much of the year, opening to traffic and the festival only during the summer months. The event has become an important cultural tourism attraction, drawing visitors keen to witness the historic, fast-paced freestyle version of polo played at such extreme altitude.

The Kabul River flows through Peshawar Valley before joining the Indus, originating in Afghanistan and entering Pakistan through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before merging with the Indus near Attock. The river has historically been central to the irrigation and settlement of the Peshawar Valley, supporting agriculture in the region for centuries. The Warsak Dam, built on the Kabul River near Peshawar and completed in 1960 with Canadian assistance, remains an important source of irrigation water and hydroelectric power for the area. As a transboundary river originating outside Pakistan, the Kabul River's flow also connects Pakistan's water resources to broader regional dynamics with Afghanistan.

The Swat River is a tributary of the Kabul River, flowing through the scenic Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before eventually joining the Kabul River, which itself later merges with the Indus near Attock. The river has long supported agriculture and hydroelectric projects in the Swat region, contributing to the valley's reputation for lush, green scenery often likened to Switzerland. Swat's rivers and mountains made it a popular tourist destination before the mid-2000s Taliban insurgency, and again since the region's stabilisation following the 2009 military operation. The river remains central to Swat's economy and identity, supporting both agriculture and the valley's tourism industry.