Pakistan’s budget transparency score has recorded a significant improvement over the past two years, rising from 30 out of 100 in 2023 to 45 out of 100 in 2025, according to the Open Budget Survey 2025 released by the International Budget Partnership (IBP). The increase represents a 50% improvement in Pakistan’s overall score and brings the country in line with the global average. The latest assessment indicates that Pakistan has made progress in the availability and disclosure of fiscal information, public participation in budget processes and the presentation of key budget documents. The improvement also places Pakistan ahead of several regional and international peers assessed in the survey, highlighting a stronger position in terms of public access to government financial information.
Pakistan’s latest score of 45 puts it ahead of India, which recorded 44, while Sri Lanka scored 43 and Bangladesh stood at 37. The country also ranked above Nigeria, which recorded 24, and China, which scored 19. The findings were highlighted by Khurram Schehzad on his X account, who noted that the improvement was broad based and largely concentrated in areas that the IBP had identified as requiring attention in its 2023 assessment. The movement in the overall score suggests that improvements were not limited to a single component of the budget process but were spread across several areas, including the disclosure of budget information, reporting and public participation.
A notable improvement was recorded in the Executive Budget Proposal, where Pakistan’s score increased from 43 to 57. The Enacted Budget score also rose substantially, moving from 33 in 2023 to 50 in 2025. The Year-End Report, which had previously been published with delays, achieved a score of 52 in the latest assessment. Public Participation also improved, increasing from 15 to 22. This latest score places Pakistan above both the global average of 17 and the Asia-Pacific regional average of 18. The improvements across these individual indicators demonstrate greater availability of information at different stages of the budget cycle and stronger opportunities for stakeholders to engage with fiscal policy and government financial decisions.
The International Budget Partnership specifically credited the timely online publication of Pakistan’s Year-End Report and more comprehensive disclosure within the Executive Budget Proposal for contributing to the country’s improved transparency score. Timely publication of fiscal documents allows parliamentarians, citizens, businesses, researchers and investors to access government financial information closer to the period in which decisions are made. More complete information in the Executive Budget Proposal also provides greater visibility into planned government revenues and expenditures before the budget is enacted. These changes can make it easier for stakeholders to examine fiscal priorities and assess how public resources are expected to be allocated.
The survey also identified improvements in public participation, with Pakistan’s score increasing from 15 to 22. The IBP attributed this progress to wider stakeholder consultations, clearer communication and increased engagement before and after the budget process. Greater parliamentary input was also cited as an important factor behind the improvement. Stronger participation provides additional opportunities for stakeholders to contribute to discussions surrounding public finances and budget priorities. The higher score therefore reflects progress in the mechanisms through which citizens, institutions and elected representatives can engage with the government’s fiscal decision-making process.
Pakistan’s progress in budget transparency has also received recognition through a recent Fiscal Transparency assessment by the US State Department, which identified several strengths within the country’s fiscal framework. These included broad public accessibility of the Enacted Budget and Year-End Report, substantially complete disclosure of planned revenues and expenditures, and generally reliable budget information. The assessment also recognised independent audit oversight supported by substantive public findings. In addition, transparent frameworks governing natural-resource awards and public procurement were identified among the strengths, alongside a sound legal framework for the sovereign wealth fund.
Greater budget transparency has broader implications for accountability and confidence in public institutions. Access to timely and comprehensive fiscal information gives parliament, citizens, businesses and investors greater visibility into how government resources are raised, allocated, spent and accounted for. Clearer budget information can also strengthen oversight by allowing stakeholders to compare planned spending with actual outcomes and examine the government’s fiscal position. For businesses and investors, greater visibility into public finances can provide additional information when assessing the economic and policy environment.
The improvement in Pakistan’s Open Budget Survey score also indicates that the country has made measurable progress since the IBP’s previous assessment. However, maintaining this momentum will require continued attention to the timely publication of fiscal documents, comprehensive disclosure and opportunities for public and parliamentary engagement. Pakistan is expected to build on the gains recorded in the 2025 survey by further improving the accessibility and quality of fiscal information. Continued progress in these areas could strengthen accountability, institutional credibility and public confidence while providing stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the country’s public finances.
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