FPCCI and Ipsos Launch Pakistan’s First Indigenous Transparency Index

Islamabad: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in partnership with Ipsos, has launched Pakistan’s first locally developed Index of Transparency and Accountability in Pakistan (iTAP), marking a significant step toward evidence-based governance reform.

The launch ceremony was held at FPCCI Capital House, Islamabad, where Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal attended as Chief Guest. The event brought together policymakers, business leaders, academics, civil society representatives, and members of the media.

Speaking at the ceremony, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh described iTAP as a strategic initiative aimed at creating a credible, recurring national benchmark to measure transparency, accountability, and public trust in institutions. He said the index would help shift governance debates from perceptions to data-driven realities.

Chairman FPCCI Policy Advisory Board Mian Zahid Hussain, SI, highlighted that iTAP was conceived in May 2025 to provide an objective and indigenous assessment of governance performance in Pakistan. The nationwide field survey was conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, ensuring up-to-date and representative findings.

According to the survey’s initial results, while public perception of corruption remains largely negative, a majority of citizens reported that their direct interactions with public institutions were free from corruption. The findings establish a baseline for future reforms and underscore the importance of improving communication, awareness, and institutional transparency.

Addressing the audience, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal congratulated FPCCI on bringing transparency and accountability into the national spotlight through a rigorous research-based approach. He emphasized that good governance is essential for citizen satisfaction, investor confidence, and sustainable economic growth.

The Minister also pointed to a critical gap between public perception and lived experience, warning that unaddressed negative perceptions can distort reality and undermine national progress. He stressed that bridging this gap must be a shared responsibility of government, institutions, and society.

He further noted that consistent tracking of iTAP over time could serve as a powerful monitoring and reform tool, reinforcing the principle that measuring performance is key to improving it.