Survey finds debt, energy costs top concerns for citizens

Pakistanis are more concerned about the nation's increasing debt and high energy costs than any other issue, according to the inaugural National Citizen Survey 2026. The survey, conducted jointly by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) and the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR), revealed a significant disparity between public priorities and government spending.

While 66% of respondents deemed Pakistan's rising national debt extremely concerning, only 42.9% of the Rs18.771 trillion federal budget was allocated to debt servicing. This allocation is greater than the combined budget for defense, health, education, pensions, and subsidies. Similarly, health spending accounts for just 0.1% of the budget.

The survey, based on 5,155 face-to-face interviews across all four provinces, rural and urban areas, and various income and age groups, found that 19% of respondents cited rising electricity and gas prices as Pakistan's most pressing problem. Unemployment came in third, while the cost of everyday goods also ranked highly among concerns.

The survey highlighted a trust deficit in public institutions, with only 15% trusting Parliament and 13% trusting the revenue department. Corruption was another pressing issue, with 18% of respondents reporting they had been asked for a bribe by a government official in the past year. The survey also noted a shift in information consumption, with 42% trusting social media more than television for news. Additionally, 79% of respondents considered the rise in drug use in Pakistan "extremely dangerous."