Police least trusted among professions in Pakistan: Gallup poll

Pakistanis place the highest level of trust with teachers, followed by laborers, government officials and police.

A majority of Pakistanis rank teachers as the most trustworthy among professionals, with police being placed the lowest, revealed a recent Gilani Poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan.

In a survey, a nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were asked the following question:

With regards to honesty and integrity, do you trust people belonging to the following professions?

The results of the poll revealed that Pakistanis placed the highest level of trust with teachers (85%), followed by laborers (63%), government officials (52%), journalists and shopkeepers (51%), and police (18%).

Compared to a similar survey conducted in 2000, teachers and police have maintained their position as most and least trusted professions. Trust in shopkeepers rose to 51% as compared to 33% in 2000.

The survey was carried out among a sample of 2,774 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during November 2010.

Error margin is estimated to be approximately ± 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level.