Review of Transparency, Accountability and Public Trust at the State and Government Levels
Islamabad: MNN
Mishal Pakistan has released the Pakistan Transparency Report 2026. The report reviews transparency, accountability, institutional performance and public trust at the state and government levels in Pakistan. Mishal Pakistan has previously released the Pakistan Reforms Report and Pakistan Freedom Report. For the report, the opinions of 2,000 people were collected from across the country, with respondents from all regions of Pakistan included in the survey. Forty-five percent of respondents were between the ages of 18 and 25, while 35 percent were between 26 and 35 years old. Sixty-seven percent of respondents were graduates, 32 percent held master’s degrees, and one percent held PhDs.
According to the report, Pakistan has a comprehensive accountability system, while laws guaranteeing citizens’ right to access information are in place at the federal and provincial levels. The Public Accounts Committee conducts detailed scrutiny of institutions and departments based on the Auditor General’s annual reports. The Auditor General of Pakistan completed 683 audits through its 29 field offices, uncovering irregularities amounting to Rs224 billion. The report says major regulatory institutions regularly publish annual performance reports, with the State Bank of Pakistan, SECP, FBR, NEPRA, NAB, Auditor General of Pakistan and HEC among the prominent institutions doing so.
The report also examined the sources citizens use to obtain information. Twenty-five percent of respondents identified Facebook as their primary source of information, while 20 percent cited WhatsApp. Fifty-eight percent of respondents considered news on social media misleading, while 15 percent relied on television for information. None of the respondents identified newspapers as a source of information. Forty-six percent of respondents expressed positive trust in major multinational companies. Fifty-three percent expressed trust in other members of society, 63 percent said they strongly trusted people they knew, while 52 percent also expressed trust in strangers. Experts say that trust among citizens is the foundation of a positive society.
According to the report, 34 percent of respondents expressed confidence in Parliament’s efforts to improve financial discipline, while another 34 percent expressed confidence in Parliament’s efforts to transform Pakistan into an Islamic welfare state. Fifty-two percent believe the government is working according to a long-term vision, while 36 percent believe public opinion influences government actions. Forty-three percent of respondents expressed confidence in the capabilities of policymakers. Thirty-nine percent expressed confidence in the reform process within the police, 40 percent expressed trust in the higher judiciary, while 82 percent expressed confidence in the armed forces to protect Pakistan’s borders.
The report also assessed public awareness of various regulatory institutions. Ninety percent of respondents were aware of the role of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), 95 percent were aware of the role of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and 90 percent were aware of the role of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Fifty-two percent of respondents said e-governance platforms are improving service delivery, 54 percent believe Pakistan is moving toward a digital future, while 52 percent remain optimistic about Pakistan’s long-term direction.
