Gallup Survey Exposes Gaps in Government’s Economic Improvement Claims

LAHORE – A recent **Gallup Pakistan survey** has revealed widespread dissatisfaction among the business community regarding the government’s claims of economic improvement. According to the **16th Wave Business Confidence Index**, **92% of businesses rated the current business situation as negative**, while **88% expressed pessimism about the future**. Opinions on the country’s overall direction turned sharply negative at **-8%**.

The survey noted that although business confidence showed a slight decline compared to the second quarter of 2025, it remains **higher than the same period in 2024**. Positive perceptions of the current business situation dropped from 20% in the previous survey to just 8%, while optimism about the future fell from 22% to 12%.

**Inflation continues to be the biggest challenge**, with **33% of respondents emphasizing the need for price stability**. Despite recent trends of reduced inflation, food and energy prices have increased in recent months. **Load shedding remains a major issue**, affecting 42% of businesses, despite government investments in electricity infrastructure.

Regarding economic strategy, **46% of businesses expressed confidence in the current government’s economic policies**, a 5% increase compared to the previous year. **Bilal Gilani**, Executive Director of Gallup Pakistan, noted that while confidence has slightly decreased this quarter, the overall trend remains positive. He emphasized that **stability alone is insufficient**, and sustained economic growth is essential to maintaining long-term business confidence.

The survey, conducted **October 22–25, 2025**, covered **571 businesses** across manufacturing, services, construction, retail/wholesale, and financial sectors in **over 40 districts across all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir**, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s business environment.