SDPI Official Press
Published Date: Oct 26, 2015
SDPI Press Release (October 26, 2015)
Political Barometer: Socio-Political Preferences of People of Pakistan
Islamabad, Monday, October 26, 2015: People’s perception survey, “Political Barometer, 2015,” conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute has thrown up unemployment, corruption and, security and load shedding as the major challenges faced by the nation. The Survey based on the perceptions of 3014 respondents, during the period starting from August 25, 2105 to September 10, 2015, has identified Rangers/Army as the leading forces in controlling corruption, followed by media and the superior judiciary. Police on the other hand is perceived as the most corrupt department. Important findings of the survey have been shared with the media in a briefing Monday, by Executive Director of SDPI, Dr. Abid Q Suleri.
Hailing china as the most reliable friend, 90 percent of the respondents, consider China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor, a game changer, of which 80 percent believe that the project will promote mutually beneficial trade with China. 79 percent of the respondents consider China as the most reliable friend, followed by Saudi Arabia which enjoys support of 12.3 percent.
23 percent of the respondents perceive unemployment as the biggest challenge Pakistan is facing, followed by corruption and, load shedding and terror ism, according to 21 and 17 percent of the respondents, respectively.
On the performance of Chief Ministers, in controlling corruption, Sind province is at the bottom, where according to 67.3 percent of the respondents the performance is unsatisfactory. Followed by Balochistan, where 59.1 percent of the respondents termed the performance as unsatisfactory. Punbaj is third in a raw, with 45.8 percent are not happy with the performance. Khyber Pakhtumkhaw is almost evenly divided in opinion, where 44.4 percent of the respondents are not happy with the performance of their Chief Minister in controlling corruption, whereas, 43.6 percent perceive his performance as satisfactory.
Respondents consider inflation as a major problem. When asked, ‘does inflation increased,’ 61 percent said “yes” it was. Of them 51.5 percent belief that the government was not serious in solving this problem. It has affected their lifestyle, in which, food quality education and health have suffered the most.
According to the survey, PTI is rising nationwide enjoying the support of 32.5 percent of respondents, closely chased by PML (N) floating at the support of 27.6 percent of respondents. PPP settles at the third place, enjoying the support of 14.5 percent respondents. In the forthcoming local government elections they will votes not on the party lines, rather they would consider local issues and personalities as important considerations.
To a question on terrorism, about 55 percent of respondents believe India is involved behind terrorism in Pakistan. Another 29 percent blame USA for sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. Overall, 79 percent of the respondents see a foreign hand behind terrorism in Pakistan.
Describing the survey, Dr. Abid Q Suleri said, the Political Barometer does not pretend to be perfect, more scientific and more representative than others of its kind. However, it does reveal that political division in the society has sharpened that ever before.