FOR decades, Pakistan has grappled with corruption and a perception of institutional decay. The need for transparency-oriented reforms has been repeatedly highlighted by both domestic and international observers as essential for the country’s economic sustainability and social stability. Persistent challenges such as poor governance, bureaucratic delays and limited public access to information continue to hinder progress. Transparency reforms are widely regarded as critical for securing international financial support, restoring public trust and modernizing the economy. Recent diagnostic reports and legislative initiatives emphasize that institutional integrity remains the “central pillar” of Pakistan’s development strategy.

However, data-driven reforms, digitization and strengthened accountability mechanisms are reshaping governance realities. The gap between perception and practice is narrowing, with citizen-level experience showing........

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