Number of Pakistanis satisfied with economic situation increases: survey

In a positive development, the number of Pakistanis satisfied with the country’s economy and overall situation has increased, a recent survey revealed.

The second quarter report of Ipsos Pakistan Consumer Confidence Survey 2024, in which more than 1,000 people participated from across the country, also stated that the concern of Pakistanis over inflation has also decreased, The News reported on Sunday.

In the survey, the percentage of Pakistanis who think that the country is heading in the right direction was seen at a two-year high.

The survey showed that 12% of people expressed complete satisfaction with the direction of the country in the first quarter, and in the second quarter it was 18%.

While the rate of those saying the country’s direction was wrong decreased by 6% to 82%.

The rate of Pakistanis calling inflation the most important issue was also recorded at a three-year low, 47% in November 2021, 63% in December 2022, 70% in March 2023, 51% in the first quarter of 2024, while 34% in the recent survey called inflation the most important issue.

Despite a decrease in the concerns of Pakistanis on inflation, this issue was seen at the top of the country’s major problems. However, other problems like unemployment, poverty, electricity tariffs and increased loadshedding saw an increase in the concerns of Pakistanis.

The rate of those calling unemployment a major problem increased by 10% to 26%, the rate of those expressing concern over poverty increased by 4% to 11%, the rate of Pakistanis worried about power outages increased by 4% to 8%, and the rate of those expressing concern over the increase in electricity tariff increased by 2% to 6%.

Among other issues, 3% of people showed concern over the burden of taxes, 2% on inequality in the implementation of the law, 2% on corruption, bribery, adulteration and nepotism, 2% on interference in the work of state institutions, while 1% of Pakistanis expressed concern over the lack of public health facilities and demanded the government to solve these problems.

The question of the current situation of the country’s economy witnessed an increase of 12 % compared to the previous survey. 16% called the country’s economy strong and expressed full confidence in it, while the rate of those who called the economy weak increased by 8% to 68%, while the rate of those who considered the economy medium, i.e. neither strong nor weak, decreased by 20% to 16%.

On the question of whether buying common household items has become easier, 10% of Pakistanis voted in the affirmative, an increase of 6% compared to the previous survey, while the rate of Pakistanis who said shopping was difficult was seen at 90%, after a 6% decrease.