Corruption top concern for Pakistanis, NCPS 2025 shows

Survey of 4,000 citizens highlights public trust, institutional reforms, and demands accountability in key sectors

Corruption remains one of the top concerns for citizens across Pakistan, shaping trust in public institutions and influencing perceptions of governance, according to the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025.

The NCPS 2025, conducted by Transparency International (TI) Pakistan and its partner organisations, provides a detailed snapshot of how citizens view integrity, accountability, and service delivery in daily life.

The survey, conducted from September 22 to 29, 2025, covered 20 districts across all four provinces, with 4,000 respondents participating. This represents a significant expansion from the NCPS 2023, which surveyed 1,600 respondents in 16 districts.

“The survey explores a wide range of themes, including sectors perceived as more corrupt, factors contributing to corruption, and public views on the accountability of anti-corruption institutions,” TI Pakistan Chairman Justice (retd) Zia Perwez writes in the report.

“Questions related to political financing, whistleblower protection, and transparency in tax-exempted charitable organisations reflect citizens’ growing concern for integrity and openness across all sectors,” he added.

The report emphasises that the NCPS 2025 does not measure corruption itself but rather captures citizens’ experiences and perceptions in their interactions with public institutions and services. Such perceptions are key indicators of public trust and signal where reforms are most urgently needed.

The survey, described as a more robust and representative exercise, ensured deliberate inclusion across urban-rural divides, gender, and persons with disabilities (PWD), providing institutions with a stronger nationwide gauge of public perception.

Key points

One standout finding is that 66% of respondents said they had not encountered a situation in the past year where they felt compelled to pay a bribe for public services. This suggests that the pressure of day-to-day corruption is not a universal experience for citizens.

The survey also highlights public acknowledgement of recent governmental efforts. Approximately six in ten respondents either fully or partially agreed that the government has helped stabilise the economy through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, indicating public recognition of challenging macroeconomic decisions.

An institutional scan within the report notes a 6% improvement in public perception of the police, attributed to positive changes in behaviour and service delivery through reforms. Other institutions showing improved public perception include education, land and property, local government, and taxation.

Critically, the NCPS outlines a clear public agenda for institutional reform. Citizens expressed a strong desire for better accountability, limited discretionary powers for officials, and stronger Right to Information laws, offering a clear roadmap for policymakers to implement reforms.

There is also a powerful public demand for the reform of oversight bodies themselves. A striking 78% of citizens want anti-corruption institutions like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to be more answerable and transparent, supporting the need for their internal reform rather than delegitimisation.

The survey offers a specific blueprint for the health sector, with citizens calling for stricter controls on pharmaceutical commissions, clearer rules for doctors’ private practices, and stronger regulators supported by effective complaint mechanisms.

On politics and public spending, over 80% of respondents want business funding of political parties to be either banned or strictly regulated. Additionally, 55% advocate for the removal of political names and images from government advertising.

Finally, the report highlights a public willingness to engage in anti-corruption efforts under the right conditions. Forty-two per cent stated they would feel safe reporting corruption if strong whistleblower protections existed, with citizens clearly valuing anonymity and reward mechanisms in reporting systems.

TI Pakistan is the national chapter of Transparency International, Germany, while the NCPS is a domestic exercise. The report notes that its findings do not feed into or alter Pakistan’s standing on the global Corruption Perceptions Index.

NCPS 2025, therefore, serves not only as a barometer of public sentiment but also as a comprehensive guide to citizens’ expectations for governance and institutional integrity.