PPSC ESE Physical (BS-14) Past Paper 2026

The correct answer is C: 1964. Khawaja Nazimuddin, a prominent political figure in Pakistan, passed away on October 24, 1964. His death marked the end of an influential career that saw him play crucial roles in the nascent years of Pakistan. He was the second Governor-General of Pakistan, serving from 1948 to 1951, and subsequently became the second Prime Minister of Pakistan, holding office from 1951 to 1953.

• A: 1962 is incorrect. While 1962 was a significant year in Pakistan's political history due to the promulgation of the new constitution by Ayub Khan, it was not the year of Khawaja Nazimuddin's demise. He was alive and observed the political developments of this period.

• B: 1963 is also incorrect. Khawaja Nazimuddin was still alive in 1963. He continued to be a respected figure in the country, even after his active political career as Prime Minister had concluded a decade earlier. His death occurred the following year.

• D: 1965 is incorrect. The year 1965 is notably associated with the Indo-Pakistani War. Khawaja Nazimuddin had already passed away in 1964, a year prior to the outbreak of this major conflict. Therefore, any political or social events of 1965 occurred after his death.

Khawaja Nazimuddin is remembered for his statesmanship and commitment to constitutionalism during a turbulent period in Pakistan's history, and his passing in 1964 was a loss for the nation.

The correct answer is B: Ayub Khan. Pakistan's Second Constitution was promulgated and enforced on June 8, 1962, by Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Ayub Khan had seized power in a military coup in October 1958, abrogating the first constitution of 1956 and imposing martial law. After four years, he introduced the 1962 Constitution, which established a presidential form of government and gave significant powers to the President, reflecting Ayub Khan's autocratic rule.

• A: Iskander Mirza is incorrect. Iskander Mirza was the first President of Pakistan and was responsible for abrogating the 1956 Constitution and declaring martial law in 1958. However, he was quickly overthrown by Ayub Khan within weeks of declaring martial law, and therefore played no part in enforcing the 1962 Constitution.

• C: Yahya Khan is incorrect. General Yahya Khan came to power much later, in 1969, after Ayub Khan resigned amidst widespread protests. Yahya Khan abrogated the 1962 Constitution, dissolved the assemblies, and imposed a new martial law. He was instrumental in the events leading to the 1971 war and the separation of East Pakistan, and later oversaw the first general elections in Pakistan's history.

• D: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is incorrect. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became President in 1971 and later Prime Minister. He was a key architect of Pakistan's third constitution, the 1973 Constitution, which restored a parliamentary system. He was not involved in the enforcement of the 1962 Constitution, as he rose to prominence significantly after its promulgation.

Thus, the 1962 Constitution is intrinsically linked with Ayub Khan's era of presidential rule in Pakistan.

The correct answer is A: Razia Sultana. Razia Sultana was the first and only female Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She reigned from 1236 to 1240 AD, succeeding her father Iltutmish. She defied gender norms of her time by openly leading armies and administering justice, demonstrating remarkable statesmanship and military prowess. Her rule, though short, is a significant milestone in the history of the Indian subcontinent as she was a sovereign monarch.

• B: Chand Bibi is incorrect. Chand Bibi was a powerful regent and warrior who defended the Ahmadnagar Sultanate against the Mughal Empire in the late 16th century. While she was an influential figure and a great military strategist, she primarily acted as a regent for her young nephew and later for the ruler of Bijapur, rather than being a sovereign queen in her own right like Razia Sultana.

• C: Nur Jahan is incorrect. Nur Jahan was a highly influential empress consort during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century. She wielded immense power behind the throne, issued farmans (royal decrees), and even had coins struck in her name. However, she was never the reigning monarch herself; her power was derived from her husband, the Emperor.

• D: Mumtaz Mahal is incorrect. Mumtaz Mahal was the beloved wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, for whom the magnificent Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum. While she was a significant figure in Shah Jahan's life and an empress consort, she did not hold any political or administrative power as a ruler. Her fame is primarily associated with her personal relationship with the emperor and the iconic monument built in her memory.

Therefore, Razia Sultana stands out as the pioneering female sovereign ruler in the Indian Subcontinent.

The correct answer is B: Aug 1946. Direct Action Day was observed on August 16, 1946. This day was called by the All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to assert the Muslim League's demand for a separate Muslim state (Pakistan) through peaceful protest and demonstrations. However, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), the day unfortunately degenerated into widespread communal riots and violence, leading to a tragic loss of life and massive destruction. This event further deepened the communal divide in British India.

• A: July 1946 is incorrect. While significant political developments were occurring in July 1946, such as the Muslim League's withdrawal of its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan, Direct Action Day itself was not observed in this month. The decision for Direct Action Day was made in July, but its implementation was scheduled for August.

• C: Sept 1946 is incorrect. By September 1946, the aftermath of Direct Action Day was still being felt, and the interim government was being formed with Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice-President. The specific observance of Direct Action Day did not happen in September.

• D: Oct 1946 is incorrect. October 1946 also saw ongoing communal tensions and violence in various parts of India, particularly in Noakhali. However, the specific event designated as Direct Action Day by the Muslim League was definitively on August 16, not in October.

Direct Action Day was a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the partition of British India, highlighting the growing political and communal chasm between Hindus and Muslims, ultimately accelerating the demand for Pakistan.

The correct answer is B: Punjab. Before 1901, the areas that would later be constituted into the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), were administered as part of the Punjab Province. During the British Raj, the frontier regions bordering Afghanistan were strategically important and underwent several administrative reorganizations. Initially, these districts were a part of the larger Punjab administration.

• A: Sindh is incorrect. Sindh was a distinct province under British rule, geographically located to the south of Punjab and the NWFP. It had its own separate administration and was not contiguous with or directly governing the tribal and settled areas that would form the NWFP.

• C: Balochistan is incorrect. Balochistan was largely composed of princely states and tribal territories, and parts of it were administered as a Chief Commissioner's Province. It is geographically located to the southwest of the NWFP, and its administrative structure was separate from that of the areas that became the NWFP.

• D: Kashmir is incorrect. Kashmir was a large princely state ruled by a Maharaja, under British paramountcy but not directly part of British Indian administration as a province. It shares a border with the region that became NWFP, but the NWFP areas were not part of the Kashmir state's administration.

In 1901, Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India, recognized the strategic and administrative challenges of managing the frontier from Lahore (Punjab's capital) and thus created the North-West Frontier Province as a separate entity, directly under the control of the Viceroy through a Chief Commissioner, effectively separating it from Punjab.

The correct answer is D: All of these. Pakistan's energy crisis is a complex and multifaceted issue, stemming from a combination of interconnected problems rather than a single cause. The options listed all represent significant contributing factors to the persistent energy shortages and inefficiencies experienced in the country.

• A: Circular Debt is a major reason. This refers to a chain of unpaid dues within the power sector. Electricity generation companies (GENCOs) are not paid on time by power distribution companies (DISCOs), which in turn struggle with bill collection from consumers and delayed subsidies from the government. This lack of cash flow cripples the entire sector, hindering investment in new capacity, maintenance, and fuel procurement.

• B: Reliance on imported fuel is another critical factor. A significant portion of Pakistan's electricity generation relies on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Fluctuations in international fuel prices directly impact the cost of power generation, leading to higher electricity tariffs, increased national import bills, and greater economic vulnerability. This also exacerbates the circular debt as the cost of generation outpaces revenue.

• C: Electricity theft is a pervasive issue that causes immense financial losses for distribution companies and contributes to load shedding. Unauthorized connections, tampering with meters, and non-payment of bills by a segment of consumers result in substantial revenue leakage. This reduces the funds available for system upgrades, maintenance, and purchasing fuel, ultimately burdening paying consumers with higher tariffs and contributing to power outages.

Therefore, all these factors—circular debt, heavy reliance on imported fuels, and widespread electricity theft—interact and collectively contribute to the severity and persistence of the energy crisis in Pakistan, making the problem challenging to resolve.

The correct answer is Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Upon the death of General Zia-ul-Haq in a plane crash on August 17, 1988, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who was serving as the Chairman of the Senate, automatically assumed the role of acting President of Pakistan as per the constitution. He then successfully contested and was elected President later that year, serving until 1993. His succession was a direct constitutional consequence of the President's demise, ensuring continuity of governance during a critical transitional period for the nation.

Let's examine why the other options are incorrect:

• Benazir Bhutto: She became Prime Minister of Pakistan in December 1988, following general elections. She held the executive office as head of government, not the ceremonial and constitutional role of President immediately after Zia's death.
• Nawaz Sharif: He also rose to prominence as Prime Minister of Pakistan, first serving in that capacity in 1990. Like Benazir Bhutto, his role was as head of government, and he did not assume the presidency directly following Zia-ul-Haq.
• Farooq Leghari: He served as the President of Pakistan much later, from 1993 to 1997. Therefore, he was not the immediate successor to General Zia-ul-Haq.