Introduction: The Power to Define the Narrative
In global governance discourse, perception often precedes proof. For countries like Pakistan, this imbalance has proven costly, allowing reputation-heavy indices to shape international opinion while overlooking ground realities. The launch of the Index of Transparency and Accountability in Pakistan (ITAP) represents a decisive intervention in this narrative imbalance. Rather than contesting perceptions rhetorically, ITAP confronts them empirically, anchoring governance assessment in citizen experience rather than inherited assumptions.
Commissioned by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and conducted by Ipsos in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), ITAP is Pakistan’s first indigenous, large-scale governance index. Its ambition is not cosmetic improvement in rankings, but structural clarity in understanding how accountability actually functions across public institutions.
The Limits of Perception-Based Governance Metrics
International corruption and transparency indices have long shaped Pakistan’s external image. While useful for cross-country comparison, these tools rely overwhelmingly on elite opinion, expert surveys, and reputational feedback loops. Citizen interaction, the most critical indicator of governance quality, remains marginal in such assessments.
ITAP exposes this methodological blind spot. By systematically measuring both what citizens believe and what they experience, the index reveals that negative perception does not automatically translate into corrupt daily interactions. This distinction is not semantic; it is foundational for evidence-based reform.
What the Data Actually Shows
The ITAP findings point to a substantial perception–reality gap. While majorities perceive bribery, nepotism, and illicit enrichment as widespread, lived experience tells a different story. Sixty-seven percent of respondents report no encounter with malpractice in public institutions. Nearly three-quarters have never paid a bribe, and an overwhelming majority have never witnessed illicit enrichment.
These outcomes challenge the narrative of routine, everyday corruption. Instead, they suggest a governance environment where reforms are quietly reshaping citizen-state interaction, even as public trust remains slow to recover.
Digitalisation as Structural Reform, Not Symbolism
One of ITAP’s most consequential contributions is its validation of digital governance reforms. Over the past decade, Pakistan has reduced discretionary authority through automated systems, online service portals, and digitised identity and record management. These changes are not abstract policy claims; they manifest in reduced rent-seeking opportunities and clearer service pathways.
Institutions such as NADRA, government hospitals, and public education consistently rank highest in citizen satisfaction and transparency experience. ITAP confirms that when discretion narrows, accountability expands.
Perception Formation and the Trust Deficit
Importantly, ITAP highlights how perception is often shaped by legacy narratives rather than interaction. Police institutions dominate the public imagination despite limited direct engagement for many citizens. Conversely, institutions with the highest interaction levels demonstrate stronger accountability outcomes.
This imbalance underscores Pakistan’s core governance challenge today: not institutional collapse, but a trust deficit between reforming systems and public belief.
Why ITAP Matters Beyond Pakistan
ITAP is not merely a national diagnostic tool; it is a methodological statement. It demonstrates how developing states can reclaim ownership of governance assessment through transparent, citizen-centered measurement. For international observers, ITAP offers corrective evidence to perception-heavy evaluations. For policymakers, it provides a baseline for targeted, data-driven reform.
Conclusion: Accountability as a Measurable Reality
Pakistan’s governance evolution is uneven, incomplete, and ongoing, but it is real. ITAP shifts the conversation from inherited judment to measurable performance. By grounding accountability in lived experience, Pakistan has taken a critical step toward rebuilding institutional legitimacy and redefining how governance progress is assessed.
