ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is showing encouraging signs of institutional trust, digital transformation and public confidence in its long-term direction, according to the newly released Pakistan Transparency Report 2026 by Mishal Pakistan.
The report is described as the country’s first comprehensive national governance assessment based on the TARL framework, covering transparency, accountability, rule of law and legitimacy.
It is based on a survey of 2,000 respondents from all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, conducted between December 2025 and March 2026.
The survey reflects the views of a largely young and highly educated section of Pakistan’s population. Around 80% of respondents were aged between 18 and 35, while 99% held a university degree or higher, highlighting the views of Pakistan’s emerging generation of professionals and citizens.
Strong confidence in national institutions
One of the most prominent findings is the high level of confidence in Pakistan’s armed forces.
The report found that 82% of respondents recognised the armed forces as guardians of Pakistan’s frontiers, making them the country’s most trusted institution.
Another 74% acknowledged their success in curbing terrorist activities, while 59% expressed strong confidence in their role in protecting the country.
The survey also recorded confidence in other state institutions. Around 43% of respondents expressed trust in the competence of policymakers, 40% showed confidence in the higher judiciary and 38% recognised progress in police reforms. Parliamentary efforts towards fiscal discipline were also acknowledged by around one-third of respondents.
Accountability framework expands
The report highlighted Pakistan’s established accountability and oversight mechanisms.
The Auditor-General of Pakistan completed 683 audits across different tiers of government through 29 field audit offices, with Rs224.8 billion recovered as a result of audit activity. It also audited 234 foreign-aided projects.
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The Wafaqi Mohtasib received a record 226,372 complaints in 2024 and resolved 191,950 within the 60-day deadline, with around half of complaints submitted through digital channels.
Pakistan also has right-to-information legislation at the federal level and across the provinces, providing citizens with a legal framework to seek access to official information.
Pakistan moving towards digital future
Public awareness of major regulators remains particularly high. According to the report, 95% of respondents were familiar with the Federal Board of Revenue, while awareness of both the Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority stood at 90%.
The findings shared by Mishal Pakistan also show growing confidence in digital governance, with 52% of respondents saying e-governance platforms are improving service delivery and 54% believing Pakistan is moving towards a digital future. More than half also expressed optimism about the country’s long-term direction.
The report presents these trends as an opportunity to further strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen engagement while building on Pakistan’s existing institutional and digital governance framework.
