PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced the steepest drop in purchasing power over the past 12 months, with 72 percent of residents reporting a decline, the highest among all provinces in Pakistan, the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025 revealed. Punjab followed with 65 percent, Sindh 53 percent, and Balochistan 43 percent. The survey showed that nationally, 43 percent of respondents reported an increase in purchasing power, while 57 percent experienced a decline. Transparency International emphasized that the survey reflects public perception rather than actual rates of corruption.
The National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025 by Transparency International Pakistan, conducted from September 22 to 29, involved 4,000 participants across the country, up from 1,600 in 2023.
The survey included 55 percent male, 43 percent female, and 2 percent transgender respondents, with 59 percent from urban areas and 41 percent from rural areas. The police were ranked as the most corrupt sector in the country, followed by tender and procurement, the judiciary, electricity and energy, and the health sector. The report also highlighted public expectations from tax-exempt welfare institutions. Fifty-one percent of respondents said NGOs, hospitals, laboratories, and educational institutions should not charge fees, while 53 percent demanded transparency regarding donors and donations.
Despite the decline in purchasing power, the survey noted that the country’s economy is gradually moving from stagnation to stability and from stability to growth.
