Corruption continues to rank as one of the most serious concerns for citizens across Pakistan, shaping public trust in state institutions and influencing perceptions of governance, according to the National Corruption Perception Survey 2025. The study, conducted by Transparency International Pakistan in collaboration with partner organizations, provides a detailed picture of how ordinary citizens experience integrity, transparency, and accountability in their daily interactions with public services, while also offering policymakers a clear roadmap for reform.
The NCPS 2025 was carried out between September 22 and 29, 2025, covering 20 districts from all four provinces. A total of 4,000 respondents participated, making it one of the most comprehensive domestic perception surveys of its kind in the country. This marked a significant expansion from the NCPS 2023, which surveyed 1,600 respondents in 16 districts, strengthening the reliability and national representation of the findings through deliberate inclusion of urban and rural populations, women, and persons with disabilities.
According to the report, the survey does not directly measure the volume of corruption but captures citizens’ experiences and perceptions when dealing with public institutions. These perceptions are widely recognised as critical indicators of public trust and institutional effectiveness. The survey explored key themes such as sectors perceived to be more vulnerable to corruption, accountability of oversight bodies, and public views on transparency in political financing and tax-exempted charitable organisations. Transparency International Pakistan Chairman Justice (retd) Zia Perwez noted that the findings reflect a growing public expectation for openness, integrity, and stronger institutional checks across both public and private sectors.
One of the notable findings of the survey was that 66 percent of respondents said they did not face a situation in the past year where they felt forced to pay a bribe for public services. This suggests that while corruption remains a significant concern, day-to-day bribery is not a universal experience for citizens. The survey also recorded recognition of recent government actions, with around six in ten respondents either fully or partially agreeing that the government contributed to economic stabilisation through its engagement with the International Monetary Fund programme and the exit from the Financial Action Task Force Grey List.
Institutional performance perceptions showed selective improvement. The police recorded a six percent rise in public trust, attributed to improvements in conduct and service delivery linked to reform initiatives. Other areas showing improved public perception included education services, land and property administration, local government performance, and taxation departments. Despite these gains, the survey highlighted a strong public demand for deeper reforms, calling for reduced discretionary powers for officials, stronger Right to Information laws, and more transparent operational frameworks across public offices.
The findings also show strong public support for reforming the country’s anti-corruption bodies. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said that institutions such as the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency should themselves be more transparent and accountable, favouring internal reform over weakening or abolition. In the health sector, respondents called for tighter regulation of pharmaceutical practices, clearer rules governing doctors’ private work, and more effective complaint redress systems.
On political financing, more than 80 percent of participants supported banning or strictly regulating business funding of political parties, while 55 percent favoured removing political branding from government advertising. The survey also highlighted public willingness to engage in anti-corruption efforts, with 42 percent saying they would feel safe reporting corruption if strong whistleblower protections, anonymity, and reward systems were put in place.
Overall, the NCPS 2025 serves as a comprehensive barometer of public sentiment, offering detailed insight into citizens’ expectations for stronger governance, institutional integrity, and meaningful accountability mechanisms across Pakistan’s public sector.
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