A new Gallup Pakistan Public Opinion Survey for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has found significant discontent with governance, infrastructure, economic opportunity and accountability, including among voters of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Conducted via face-to-face interviews of 3,000 residents in KP during February and March, the survey has a 2-3% margin of error at 95% confidence. Gallup says it is part of a series of assessments of different provincial governments.
According to the survey, 74% of residents report access to clean drinking water, while another 74% say educational facilities are available. However, 10% report no access to educational facilities, with south KP residents most likely to complain over this issue.
Only 63% of respondents have access to healthcare, with 18% saying there are no healthcare facilities in their areas. The availability of healthcare facilities is highest in the Hazara division (79%) and urban areas (79%), and worst in south KP, with nearly half of respondents reporting a lack of healthcare facilities.
Similarly, 66% of respondents report no access to natural gas, and 49% report poor or no electricity access. One in three respondents said limited or insufficient roads presented a poor picture of accessibility in the province, with Hazara division and urban areas again taking the lead and south KP lacking. While 63% of residents say they have access to public transport, only 23% feel it is easily available, and 19% say it is not available at all.
In regards to public spaces, 77% of residents say they have no access to parks; 81% lack libraries; 70% have no community centers.
Governance and development
Factoring in all 13 years of PTI’s governance, 59% of respondents acknowledged road development, with 53% noting improvement in public transport, and 50% in other infrastructure. However, this satisfaction decreases with age and area of residence of the respondent, and rural and older respondents residents complain of no improvement. Overall, 28% of KP residents believe PTI has not carried out road construction and improvement; 34% complain about no improvement of public transport; and 37% say there has no other development.
Since the 2024 general elections, only 43% report new road projects, 37% public transport improvements, and 40% general development. This is reflected within PTI supporters as well, with up to 49% saying no recent development have taken place in their area. Overall, 55% of KP residents say the incumbent government has not launched infrastructure development programs that benefit the public.
Corruption and Accountability
A majority of 52% believes development funds allocated for development have been misappropriated due to corruption and only 32% think they were used properly. Even among PTI voters, 45% believe development funds have been wasted due to corruption.
Among the respondents, 48% believe corruption in government departments has increased against 19% who think it has decreased. Higher levels of education perceive higher levels of corruption. When comparing perceptions of corruption in KP against Punjab, 40% of KP residents said there was more corruption in KP’s government departments than Punjab’s government projects. Roughly 33% of PTI voters said they also believed KP has more corruption than Punjab.
There was an almost even split between KP residents who were satisfied (46%) with the province’s anti-corruption measures and those unsatisfied (43%). Nonetheless, 74% of respondents desire an improvement in anti-corruption institutions, while 75% of PTI voters say the same. According to the survey, 55% of KP residents believe funds are only given to the chief minister’s favored individuals, with only 30% seeing a fair distribution.
An overwhelming majority of 71%, including 71% of PTI voters, supports formal investigations into alleged corruption in mega projects during PTI’s 13-year rule. Two thirds (62%) of PTI voters also feel that former PTI ministers were involved in corruption.
Economy
Of the respondents, 59% say unemployment has increased in the past year, with 67% saying the government has failed to create job or business opportunities. A majority of 54% say they have no knowledge of “flagship” initiatives such as BizHub, Bacha Khan Poverty Alleviation Program, or Livelihood Support and Small Community Infrastructure Program.
A majority, 59%, believes it is easier doing business in Punjab over KP, while a staggering 73% believe personal connections, not merit, determine access to government jobs. However, 36% of residents believe neither KP nor Punjab has a merit-based government employment system.
Security and Law Enforcement
While 58% are satisfied with security, 57% remain afraid of terrorism—especially in south KP (72%). Half of respondents believe the provincial government has successfully eliminated terrorism in their province.
Of the respondents, 54% have a Sehat Card, with 83% of residents saying it has improved healthcare access for poor people. Appreciation of the initiative exists across party lines.
Elected Representatives
While 49% of respondents are happy with the with the performance of the provincial assembly, 43% are not. The dissatisfaction is highest among opposition party voters, with only 31% of PTI voters dissatisfied with the performance of MPAs, who are mostly from their party. However, 57% of PTI voters believe their MPAs have completely reneged on their electoral promises.
Justice System
Even though 53% of respondents are satisfied with the performance of courts, 50% believe the judicial system is corrupt, while 70% say courts take too long to deliver justice. Of the respondents, 53% believe court decisions are politically influenced.
Of those aware of the alternative Jirga system of conflict resolution, 84% support it, and 70% believe Jirga decisions are fair. This points to massive support for a parallel judicial system.
Youth Engagement
A majority of 70% believe youth are included in decision-making and governance, however just 46–52% express satisfaction with youth training and development programs.
Nearly half of respondents (52%) felt the government preferentially allocates resources towards its own voter base, i.e. the PTI. Even among PTI voters, 44% felt resource allocation was politically motivated.
Leadership Opinion
Only 38% believe C.M. Gandapur is performing better than his predecessors, while almost 47% favor Imran Khan replacing him as chief minister. Half of respondents, across demographic groups, say Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is performing better than Gandapur. Even 37% of PTI voters believe the Punjab C.M. is performing better than the KP C.M. Residents were most satisfied with Gandapur’s performance in healthcare (64%) and least satisfied with reducing corruption (42%).
Center-Province Ties
Among the respondents, 62% expressed satisfaction with the government’s management of Afghan refugees, with the same amount saying their deportation would benefit the provincial economy. A staggering majority, 85%, supported the federal government’s deportation order, with 79% expecting an improvement in security after its implementation.
A majority (59%) are satisfied with the federal government’s performance, with 37% saying the KP government is best suited to solve local issues. One in four respondents believe neither the province nor the center can reduce poverty or tackle corruption.
As the PTI government continues to threaten agitation against the federal government, 85% of KP residents favor stronger collaboration between the province and the center. This is reflected across party lines, with even 86% of PTI supporters desiring more cooperation. Similarly, 60% believe the KP government wasted time in protests and demonstrations rather than focusing on governance, including 48% of PTI voters.