Islamabad, Pakistan – 12 August 2026 – Pakistan today marked a significant milestone in strengthening evidence-based governance with the launch of the State of Transparency in Pakistan Report 2026, the country’s first nationally representative assessment of governance quality built on the experiences, perceptions and expectations of Pakistani citizens.
Produced by Mishal Pakistan, the Country Partner Institute of the World Economic Forum, the report introduces the TARL Framework: Transparency, Accountability, Rule of Law and Legitimacy to provide a comprehensive picture of institutional performance and public trust. Drawing on a nationwide survey of 2,000 respondents across all four provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, complemented by expert consultations and institutional analysis, the report establishes Pakistan’s first evidence-based governance baseline.
Puruesh Chaudhary, Lead Author of the Report and Director, Mishal Pakistan, said: “This report is more than a research publication; it is a national benchmark. It demonstrates that transparency is not about exposing institutions, it is about strengthening them. By providing credible evidence on what is working and where improvements are needed, the report creates a common foundation for informed policymaking, constructive public dialogue and sustained governance reform.”
Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer, Mishal Pakistan, said: “Transparency is no longer simply a governance principle it is a national strategic capability. Countries that strengthen openness, accountability and institutional trust are better equipped to attract investment, improve public services and build resilient economies.” He further said, “The Pakistan Transparency Report 2026 establishes, for the first time, a nationally owned evidence base that enables Pakistan to measure governance through the lived experiences of its own citizens. This is the beginning of an annual national accountability system that measures progress through evidence, not perception.”
Unlike international governance rankings, the Pakistan Transparency Report captures how citizens experience government institutions in their daily lives. It provides policymakers, parliament, regulators, development partners, academia, businesses and civil society with practical evidence to strengthen reforms, improve institutional performance and build public confidence.
The report comes at a time when Pakistan is undergoing significant institutional transformation. The Pakistan Reforms Report 2026 documented more than 600 reforms across 135 federal institutions, including over 200 digitally enabled reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening accountability and modernising public service delivery. The Pakistan Transparency Report complements these reform efforts by measuring how citizens perceive governance and where further improvements are needed.
