A nationwide survey on transparency and accountability has revealed a striking gap between how Pakistanis perceive corruption and what they actually experience while interacting with public institutions.
The findings come from the i-TAP (Index of Transparency & Accountability in Pakistan), an initiative launched by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and conducted through international survey firm Ipsos. The index aims to provide a locally grounded assessment of governance and public service delivery.
Perception vs Reality
According to the survey:
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68% of respondents believe bribery is common in public institutions, but only 27% said they were personally asked to pay a bribe.
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56% perceive nepotism and favoritism as widespread, while just 24% reported directly experiencing it.
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59% think illicit wealth accumulation among public officials is common, yet only 5% said they had personally witnessed such cases.
Overall, 67% of Pakistanis said they had not experienced any form of corruption in their dealings with public institutions. Additionally, 73% reported they had never been in a situation where they had to pay a bribe, and 76% said they had no encounter with nepotism affecting merit
Survey Scope
The nationwide survey was based on responses from 6,018 individuals across Pakistan. In provincial and regional comparisons, Islamabad ranked highest on the transparency index, followed by Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Institutional Performance
Public interaction was reported to be highest with the police, followed by government hospitals, WAPDA, and educational institutions.
In terms of positive personal experiences related to transparency, government hospitals ranked at the top, followed by NADRA, educational institutions, and traffic police. For overall service quality, NADRA received the highest public rating.
Based on perception scores, traffic police, hospitals, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and educational institutions were considered comparatively better-performing institutions.
Accountability Awareness & Public Trust
Among anti-corruption bodies, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was seen as the most effective institution. However, only 8% of respondents reported ever interacting with any anti-corruption agency.
Regarding satisfaction with government anti-corruption measures:
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31% expressed satisfaction
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37% remained neutral
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32% expressed dissatisfaction
Public awareness of accountability laws remains limited. Only 11% of respondents were aware of Right to Information (RTI) laws, while 15% knew about whistleblower protection laws. About 34% said they knew how to report corruption if needed.
Demographic and Regional Trends
The survey found that younger respondents reported more positive experiences compared to older age groups. Women and urban residents also showed relatively higher trust in public institutions. Perceptions of corruption were found to be less negative in urban areas compared to rural regions.
The i-TAP index is intended to serve as a baseline for future governance reforms, suggesting that while public perceptions of corruption remain high, most citizens’ actual interactions with state institutions are free from corrupt practices — a gap policymakers may need to address through improved communication, transparency, and institutional trust-building.
