Only 22% Pakistanis say country moving in right direction, Ipsos survey shows

Public confidence in Pakistan’s direction has fallen to 22%, down from 40% earlier this year, as inflation, unemployment and geopolitical concerns weigh on household sentiment, according to a new Ipsos survey.

The survey, conducted last month by market research firm Ipsos, covered more than 1,000 residents across Pakistan through face-to-face interviews.

The findings show that public optimism has returned to levels close to those seen during the Covid-19 period.

Economic concerns remained the main factor behind the decline in sentiment.

According to the survey, only one in five Pakistanis believe the national economy is strong, while 20% expect the economic situation to improve.

Ipsos said expectations about the economy had weakened as rising economic pressures pushed sentiment back towards pessimism.

The report also noted that personal financial optimism had fallen to 31%, with respondents remaining sensitive to geopolitical shocks, including US-Iran tensions.

Household spending confidence also remained weak.

Only 7% of respondents said they felt comfortable making routine household purchases, reversing gains recorded during the earlier phase of economic stabilisation.

Confidence in making major purchases stood at 5%, while 14% of respondents expressed confidence in investing.

The survey also showed a decline in job security.

Only 17% of workers said they felt secure in their employment, wiping out gains that had nearly doubled over the past two years.

Despite the overall decline in confidence, Ipsos recorded differences across demographic and regional groups.

Optimism about the country’s direction and the strength of the economy was relatively higher among men, young people, rural residents and lower-middle-income groups.

Regionally, respondents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan reported higher levels of economic hope compared with other areas.

The Ipsos survey included residents from all four provinces, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.