A new survey has laid bare the yawning chasm of distrust separating Pakistan’s citizens from their government machinery. Unveiled amid growing calls for reform, the Index of Transparency and Accountability in Pakistan (ITAP) paints a nuanced picture: widespread negativity fueled by hearsay clashes with more favorable firsthand encounters.
Jointly released by Ipsos and FPCCI, the report—launched Tuesday in Islamabad—stems from interviews with over 6,000 diverse respondents across Pakistan’s urban and rural heartlands. From bustling cities to remote villages, voices from 82 districts and 195+ tehsils underscore a national malaise, supplemented by 300 government insiders’ perspectives.
Bribery perceptions dominate: nearly seven in ten see it as commonplace, but fewer than three in ten faced direct demands. This disparity, as articulated by Ipsos MD Abdul Sattar Babar, signals that rumor mills exaggerate real issues. ‘The gap between perception and reality is huge,’ he observed, while flagging improvements in government healthcare services.
Covering December 2025 to January 2026, the poll delved into 36 areas including nepotism, illicit wealth, and anti-corruption efficacy. With 53% recently visiting public health centers, the data urges a perception overhaul.
As Pakistan grapples with institutional credibility, ITAP emerges as a vital tool for annual tracking. Bridging this divide demands not just cleaner governance but aggressive public communication to reshape entrenched views and foster genuine accountability.