Dawn
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Iftikhar A. Khan
The National Citizen Survey 2026, conducted by IPOR and facilitated by PILDAT, reveals that Pakistanis are most concerned about national debt and rising energy costs. Sixty-six percent of respondents see the country’s debt as extremely concerning, yet only 42.9% of the Rs18.771 trillion federal budget is allocated to debt servicing. The survey also highlights a significant gap between public priorities and actual spending on health, education, and social programs. Conducted from August 23 to September 5, 2026, the survey includes responses from 5,155 individuals across all four provinces, with a focus on both urban and rural areas.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) released the first-ever National Citizen Survey 2026 in Islamabad on Monday, revealing that Pakistanis are most concerned about the country’s rising national debt and escalating energy costs. Conducted between August 23 and September 5, 2026, the survey included 5,155 face-to-face interviews, covering all four provinces, with a mix of rural (60%) and urban (40%) areas, as well as diverse age, gender, and income groups.
According to the survey results, 66% of respondents viewed Pakistan’s increasing national debt as extremely worrying. However, federal budget allocations show that a staggering 42.9% of the Rs18.771 trillion budget is allocated solely for debt servicing, surpassing combined spending on defense, health, education, pensions, and subsidies. Despite this financial prioritization, federal health spending constitutes only 0.1% of the total budget.
This stark discrepancy highlights a significant gap between public concerns and government spending priorities across various demographics in Pakistan.
Written for “Economic Concerns Surging” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Pakistanis are more worried about the country’s ballooning debt and soaring electricity and gas bills than any other issue, according to the first-ever National Citizen Survey 2026 launched on Monday, which found a stark mismatch between public priorities and federal spending.
uncertain
which → worry → priorities
The survey was released at a Citizens’ Roundtable convened here by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) and independently conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR).
asserted
survey → release → Research
PILDAT facilitated the roundtable and led stakeholder engagement and communications for the launch.
asserted
PILDAT → facilitate → launch
The findings present a blunt verdict on fiscal priorities.
asserted
findings → present → priorities
While 66 per cent of respondents viewed Pakistan’s rising national debt as a grave concern — with 49pc calling it “extremely concerning” — federal budget allocations tell a different story.
asserted
allocations → view → story
Of the Rs18.771 trillion federal budget, 42.9pc goes to debt servicing alone — more than defence, health, education, pensions and subsidies combined.
asserted
42.9pc → go → defence
By contrast, federal health spending amounts to just 0.1pc of the budget.
asserted
spending → amount → budget
Researchers said the gap persisted across provinces, urban and rural areas, and different income and age groups alike.
asserted
gap → say → provinces
The survey, based on 5,155 face-to-face, in-home interviews conducted between Aug 23 and Sept 5, 2026, used a four-stage stratified sample covering all four provinces, 60pc rural and 40pc urban areas, and all major age, gender and income groups.
asserted
survey → base → groups
Of the survey respondents, 19pc named rising electricity and gas prices as Pakistan’s number one problem — the single most-cited issue nationwide.
asserted
19pc → name → problem
Nearly one in five also cited the sharp rise in the cost of everyday goods as a leading concern, while unemployment ranked third.
asserted
unemployment → cite → concern
On the economy, 91pc said it was difficult to start or run a business in Pakistan today, with taxes named as the single biggest obstacle.
asserted
taxes → say → obstacle
The survey further showed that 68pc viewed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme as either harmful or of no benefit to the general public, while 60pc said the education system did not meet the needs of a modern economy.
asserted
system → show → economy
The survey found a deep trust deficit.
asserted
survey → find → deficit
No public institution — whether Parliament, the election commission or the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) — was found to enjoy the complete trust of a majority of citizens.
asserted
institution → find → citizens
Only 15pc of respondents said they had complete trust in Parliament, while the revenue department was trusted by 13pc.
asserted
department → say → 13pc
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recorded the highest levels of confidence, at 33pc and 23pc, respectively.
asserted
Agency → record → 33pc
On corruption, 18pc of respondents said they had personally been asked for a bribe by a government official in the past year, providing first-hand data on the issue behind Pakistan’s low global corruption ranking.
asserted
they → say → ranking
The survey also captured a shift in information consumption, with 42pc trusting social media more than television for news, while 56pc of respondents blamed the internet for declining social values.
asserted
56pc → capture → values
Furthermore, 79pc of respondents considered the rise in drug use in Pakistan “extremely dangerous”.
asserted
rise → consider → Pakistan
On foreign influence, 43pc viewed reports on Pakistan by foreign-funded NGOs and think tanks as either contrary to facts and exaggerated, or driven by a foreign agenda, compared with 25pc who saw such reporting as fact-based.
asserted
who → view → reporting
Mamoon Bilal, Executive Director of PILDAT Consulting, delivered the opening remarks, while IPOR Executive Director Tariq Junaid presented the methodology and findings.
asserted
Junaid → deliver → methodology
Experts from academia, think tanks, the judiciary, the legal profession and the media attended the event to discuss the results.
asserted
Experts → attend → results
