Summary Mishal Pakistan’s 2026 transparency report finds 52% optimistic about the country’s long-term direction, while 82% trust the armed forces and 58% view social media news as misleading.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – More than half of Pakistanis are optimistic about the country’s long-term direction, with 52% of respondents expressing confidence in its future, according to the transparency report 2026 released by Mishal Pakistan.
Mishal Pakistan has released The State of Transparency in Pakistan 2026, examining transparency, accountability, public trust and governance at the state and government levels.
This report is Pakistan's first comprehensive national assessment of governance quality, applying the TARL framework across transparency, accountability, rule of law, and public trust.
The report is based on the views of 2,000 respondents from different regions of the country.
According to the report, 45 percent of respondents were aged between 18 and 25, while 35pc were between 26 and 35. Some 67pc were graduates, 32pc held master’s degrees and 1pc had PhDs.
The report said Pakistan has a comprehensive accountability system and noted that laws providing citizens with access to information are in place at the federal level and in all four provinces.
It said the Public Accounts Committee conducts detailed scrutiny of institutions and departments based on the Auditor General’s annual reports. The Auditor General of Pakistan, through 29 subordinate offices, completed 683 audits, which identified irregularities worth Rs224 billion.
The report also highlighted the regular publication of annual performance reports by major regulatory bodies, including the State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue, NEPRA, NAB, Auditor General and HEC.
Social media emerged as a major source of information. Around 25% of respondents identified Facebook as their primary source, while 20% cited WhatsApp. However, 58% considered news on social media misleading. Television was cited by 15%, while none of the respondents identified newspapers as their source of information.
The report found varying levels of public trust in institutions. Some 34% expressed confidence in Parliament’s efforts to improve financial discipline, while the same percentage trusted its efforts to develop Pakistan as an Islamic welfare state.
Meanwhile, 52% believed the government was working according to a long-term vision, while 36% said public opinion influences government actions. Some 43% expressed confidence in policymakers’ competence, 39% in police reforms and 40% in the higher judiciary.
The armed forces recorded the highest level of institutional trust, with 82% of respondents expressing confidence in their role in protecting Pakistan’s borders.
The report also assessed public awareness of regulatory institutions. Around 90% were aware of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, 95% of the FBR and 90% of HEC.
On digital governance, 52% said e-governance platforms were improving service delivery, while 54% believed Pakistan was moving towards a digital future. Overall, 52% of respondents expressed optimism about Pakistan’s long-term direction.
