Rising electricity and gas prices are the biggest concern among Pakistanis, according to the National Citizen Survey 2026 conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR).
The findings were presented Monday at a Citizens’ Roundtable in Islamabad organized by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) Consulting. Pildat Consulting led stakeholder engagement and communications for the public launch, while IPOR independently conducted the research.
The survey was based on face to face, in home interviews with 5,155 voting age citizens between August 23 and September 5, 2026. It used a four stage stratified sample covering all four provinces, rural and urban areas, and major age, gender and income groups.
About 19 percent of respondents identified rising electricity and gas prices as Pakistan’s biggest problem, making it the most frequently cited concern nationwide. The survey also found that 42.9 percent of the federal budget goes toward debt servicing, compared with just 0.1 percent allocated to health.
The findings showed that 18 percent of respondents had personally been asked for a bribe by a government official during the past year. In addition, 91 percent said it was difficult to start or operate a business in Pakistan, with taxation identified as the biggest obstacle.
No public institution included in the survey, including parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Federal Board of Revenue, received the complete trust of a majority of citizens. The Federal Investigation Agency recorded the highest level of complete trust at 33 percent, followed by the National Accountability Bureau at 23 percent. Parliament received 15 percent, while the Revenue Department received 13 percent.
The survey found that 42 percent of respondents trusted social media more than television for news, although 56 percent blamed the internet for declining social values. Meanwhile, 79 percent described the rise in drug use as extremely dangerous, while 66 percent expressed serious concern over Pakistan’s rising national debt. Of those respondents, 49 percent called the debt situation extremely concerning.
About 60 percent of citizens said the education system did not meet the needs of a modern economy. Meanwhile, 68 percent viewed Pakistan’s International Monetary Fund programme as either harmful or of no benefit to the general public.
The survey also found that 43 percent of respondents viewed reports on Pakistan by foreign funded nongovernmental organizations and think tanks as either exaggerated, contrary to facts or driven by a foreign agenda. In contrast, 25 percent considered such reporting fact based.
Researchers said the findings were consistent across all four provinces, as well as across rural and urban areas, income groups and age categories. The survey also identified the rising cost of everyday goods as a leading concern, while unemployment ranked third nationally.
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