National Citizen Survey 2026: Debt and Energy Bills Top Public Concerns While Spending Tells Another Story

ISLAMABAD: The first-ever National Citizen Survey 2026 has delivered a sobering message to the nation's leadership. Pakistani citizens are far more worried about the country's mounting debt and soaring electricity and gas bills than any other issue, and their priorities stand in stark contrast to where federal money actually goes.

The survey, released on Monday at a Citizens' Roundtable convened by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) and independently conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR), paints a clear picture of the national mood.

What do Pakistani citizens see as the biggest problems?

According to the survey, 66 per cent of respondents view Pakistan's rising national debt as a grave concern, with 49 per cent calling it extremely concerning. Meanwhile, 19 per cent of respondents named rising electricity and gas prices as the country's number one problem, making it the single most-cited issue nationwide.

Nearly one in five citizens also cited the sharp rise in the cost of everyday goods as a leading concern, while unemployment ranked third on the list of national worries.

How does federal spending compare to public priorities?

The findings present a blunt verdict on fiscal priorities. Of the Rs18.771 trillion federal budget, a staggering 42.9 per cent goes to debt servicing alone. That single line item exceeds the combined allocations for defence, health, education, pensions and subsidies.

By contrast, federal health spending amounts to just 0.1 per cent of the budget. Researchers noted that this gap persisted across all provinces, urban and rural areas, and different income and age groups alike.

What do citizens think about the economy and the IMF programme?

On the economy, the survey found that 91 per cent of respondents said it was difficult to start or run a business in Pakistan today, with taxes named as the single biggest obstacle. Furthermore, 68 per cent viewed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme as either harmful or of no benefit to the general public.

The education system also came under scrutiny, with 60 per cent of respondents saying it does not meet the needs of a modern economy.

How much trust do citizens have in public institutions?

The survey found a deep trust deficit across the board. No public institution, whether Parliament, the election commission or the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), enjoys the complete trust of a majority of citizens.

Only 15 per cent of respondents said they had complete trust in Parliament, while the revenue department was trusted by just 13 per cent. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recorded the highest levels of confidence, at 33 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

What does the survey reveal about corruption and social issues?

On corruption, 18 per cent of respondents said they had personally been asked for a bribe by a government official in the past year. This first-hand data sheds light on the issue behind Pakistan's low global corruption ranking.

The survey also captured a shift in information consumption, with 42 per cent trusting social media more than television for news. However, 56 per cent of respondents blamed the internet for declining social values.

On the scourge of drugs, 79 per cent of respondents considered the rise in drug use in Pakistan extremely dangerous.

How do citizens view foreign influence and reporting?

On foreign influence, 43 per cent viewed reports on Pakistan by foreign-funded NGOs and think tanks as either contrary to facts and exaggerated, or driven by a foreign agenda. Only 25 per cent saw such reporting as fact-based.

Who conducted the survey and how?

The survey was based on 5,155 face-to-face, in-home interviews conducted between August 23 and September 5, 2026. It used a four-stage stratified sample covering all four provinces, with 60 per cent rural and 40 per cent urban areas, and included all major age, gender and income groups.

Mamoon Bilal, Executive Director of PILDAT Consulting, delivered the opening remarks at the launch, while IPOR Executive Director Tariq Junaid presented the methodology and findings. Experts from academia, think tanks, the judiciary, the legal profession and the media attended the event to discuss the results.

The message from the citizens is clear. The nation's leadership must listen to these concerns and realign priorities to serve the people of Pakistan, ensuring that the nation's resources are directed toward building a stronger, more prosperous and self-reliant Pakistan.