Survey of 4,000 citizens highlights public trust, institutional reforms and calls for accountability in key sectors
Corruption remains a top concern for citizens across Pakistan as it shapes trust in public institutions and influences perceptions of governance, according to the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025.
NCPS 2025, conducted by Transparency International (TI) Pakistan and its partner organizations, 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 in the four provinces and involved 4,000 respondents. This represents a significant expansion from NCPS 2023, which surveyed 1,600 respondents in 16 districts.
“The survey explores a wide range of topics, including sectors perceived to be more corrupt, factors contributing to corruption, and public views on the accountability of anti-corruption institutions,” TI Pakistan Chief Justice (retired) Zia Perwez writes in the report.
“Issues related to political funding, whistleblower protection and transparency in tax-exempt charities reflect growing public concern for integrity and openness in all sectors,” he added.
The report emphasizes that NCPS 2025 does not measure corruption itself, but rather captures the experiences and perceptions of citizens in their interactions with public institutions and services. These perceptions are key indicators of public trust and point out where reforms are most urgently needed.
The survey, described as a more robust and representative exercise, ensured deliberate inclusion of urban-rural divides, gender and persons with disabilities (PWD), providing institutions with a more robust measure of public perception at the national level.
Key points
A notable finding is that 66% of respondents said they had not encountered a situation in the last year in which they felt obligated to pay a bribe for public services. This suggests that the pressure of everyday corruption is not a universal experience for citizens.
The survey also highlights public recognition of recent government efforts. About six in ten respondents fully or partially agreed that the government has helped stabilize the economy through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Gray List, indicating public recognition of challenging macroeconomic decisions.
An institutional analysis within the report notes a 6% improvement in public perception of the police, attributed to positive changes in behavior and service delivery through reforms. Other institutions showing better public perception include education, land and property, local government and taxation.
Fundamentally, the NCPS outlines a clear public agenda for institutional reform. Citizens expressed a strong desire for better accountability, limited discretionary powers for officials, and stricter right-to-information laws, offering a clear roadmap for policymakers to implement reforms.
There is also a powerful public demand for reform of the oversight bodies themselves. A staggering 78% of citizens want anti-corruption institutions such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to be more accountable and transparent, supporting the need for their internal reform rather than delegitimization.
The survey offers a specific plan for the health sector, with citizens calling for tighter controls on pharmaceutical commissions, clearer rules for doctors’ private practices and stronger regulators backed by effective complaints mechanisms.
Regarding politics and public spending, more than 80% of respondents want corporate financing of political parties to be banned or strictly regulated. Additionally, 55% advocate removing political names and images from government advertising.
Finally, the report highlights the public willingness to participate in anti-corruption efforts under the right conditions. 42 percent said they would feel safe reporting corruption if there were strong protections for whistleblowers, and citizens clearly value anonymity and reward mechanisms in reporting systems.
TI Pakistan is the national chapter of Transparency International, Germany, while NCPS is a national exercise. The report notes that its findings do not influence or alter Pakistan’s position in the global Corruption Perceptions Index.
Therefore, NCPS 2025 serves not only as a barometer of public sentiment but also as a comprehensive guide to citizens’ expectations of governance and institutional integrity.
