5 October 2026
The Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on 5 October 2026.
Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Pakistan's Foreign Office said the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia and Turkey would also attend.
The agreement, signed on 7 August 2026, says an armed attack on any one of the three countries is regarded as an attack on all three.
The committee had first met in Istanbul on 31 August 2026.
In a joint statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three countries said they agreed to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and to ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with approved arrangements and national legislation.
The committee appointed Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood (retd) of Pakistan as the alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term.
Meeting:
5 October 2026, Riyadh
Agreement signed:
7 August 2026
Parties:
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
Why it matters for exams: Defence pacts and the countries bound by them are standard international-relations questions.
UPSCSSC
In plain words
SPDC Strategic Political and Defence Committee — The committee that reviews cooperation under the Makkah Agreement.
5 October 2026
Punjab province's Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing programme was selected for the UN Scroll of Honour Award.
The award was presented on World Habitat Day, 5 October 2026, at a global event in Muscat, Oman.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz received it.
Phase 1 of the programme financed over 134,000 homes with loans exceeding 196 billion rupees.
Phase 2 financed 65,000 more homes with loans surpassing 62 billion rupees.
Award:
UN Scroll of Honour
Venue:
Muscat, Oman
Phase 1:
over 134,000 homes
Why it matters for exams: World Habitat Day and the UN-Habitat awards link housing policy to UN bodies.
Kerala PSCUPSC
14 September 2026
The Monetary Policy Committee of the State Bank of Pakistan met on 14 September 2026.
It decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 11.5 per cent.
The SBP policy rate stands at 11.50 per cent per annum.
The previous decision, announced on 27 July 2026, had also left the rate at 11.50 per cent.
The State Bank of Pakistan is the country's central bank and sets the policy rate.
Policy rate:
11.5 per cent per annum
Decision date:
14 September 2026
Previous decision:
27 July 2026, 11.50 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Central-bank policy rates of neighbouring economies are a regular comparison question beside the RBI repo rate.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The SBP body that decides the policy rate.
5 October 2026
Pakistan announced squads for the T20I series against Sri Lanka and for the ODI tri-series.
Sahibzada Farhan captains the T20I side for matches on 9, 11 and 13 October at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Shaheen Shah Afridi captains the ODI side for the tri-series of Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka from 18 to 31 October.
The tri-series matches are at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Babar Azam is in the ODI squad and not in the T20I squad.
Shaun Tait has been appointed bowling coach for both assignments.
Sri Lanka named a 16-member squad led by Kusal Mendis.
T20I captain:
Sahibzada Farhan
ODI captain:
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Tri-series:
18 to 31 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Series line-ups, captains and venues are routine sports questions.
Kerala PSCSSC
3 October 2026
Pakistan beat South Korea 5-3 in the men's hockey bronze-medal match on 3 October 2026 after trailing 3-1.
Rana Waheed Ashraf scored twice in the fourth quarter and Hannan Shahid added another goal.
Pakistan had lost the semi-final 4-3 to India.
In volleyball, Pakistan beat China 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-18) at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium.
The volleyball medal ended a 64-year wait; Pakistan's previous bronze came at the 1962 Jakarta Games.
Hockey bronze match:
Pakistan 5, South Korea 3
Volleyball bronze match:
Pakistan 3, China 0
Previous volleyball medal:
Bronze, 1962 Jakarta
Why it matters for exams: Medal tallies and host details of the Asian Games are standard sports questions.
Kerala PSCSSC
3 October 2026
The Asian Games men's cricket final was played at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan, on 3 October 2026.
India made 211 for 6 and Pakistan made 192 for 6, so India won by 19 runs and took gold.
Hasan Nawaz scored 96 off 51 balls for Pakistan, with five fours and seven sixes.
Pakistan earned silver; Sri Lanka took bronze by beating Bangladesh by 63 runs.
Pakistan had reached the final by beating Bangladesh by six wickets in the semi-final.
Result:
India won by 19 runs
Scores:
India 211 for 6, Pakistan 192 for 6
Top score:
Hasan Nawaz 96
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and scores of the Asian Games are standard sports questions.
Kerala PSCSSC
Background
Pakistan's World Heritage List entries are Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro, Taxila, and Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol.
The other three are Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, and Rohtas Fort.
The first three were inscribed in 1980, Makli and the Lahore property in 1981, and Rohtas Fort in 1997.
Pakistan ratified the World Heritage Convention on 23 July 1976.
Properties inscribed:
6, all cultural
Most recent entry:
Rohtas Fort
Convention ratified:
23 July 1976
Why it matters for exams: The number and names of a country's World Heritage Sites are a staple of general-awareness papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Commonwealth lists Pakistan as a member that joined in 1947 at independence.
Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 and rejoined in 1989.
Its capital is Islamabad and its area is 882,000 square kilometres.
The Commonwealth gives its population as 220.9 million in 2022.
Pakistan lies to the north-west of India, and its other neighbours are China, Afghanistan and Iran.
Capital:
Islamabad
Area:
882,000 square kilometres
Rejoined Commonwealth:
1989
Why it matters for exams: Which international bodies a country belongs to, and its capital and neighbours, are standard country-profile questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC