50 pc Pakistanis believe country is heading in right direction: survey

45 percent say their financial situation improved in the last year

ISLAMABAD: According to a Gilani Research Foundation Survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, 50 percent Pakistanis believe the country is headed in right direction. 

Ijaz Shafi Gilani, Chairman Gallup survey Pakistan, told The News the polls show seemingly contradicting findings. He said the polls show strong criticism of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Panama Leaks. 

The survey showed, 65 percent Pakistanis suspect that the prime minister is not innocent. The polls further show that people have not made shift in their voting intentions. Gallup survey shows the PML-N retains its clear edge over the PTI, and PPP. Three years ago, 15 percent people thought the government was heading in the right direction. 

Ijaz Shafi Gilani said Gallup survey of public opinion regarding government’s performance will be released today (Tuesday). PPI adds: According to a survey, 45 percent Pakistanis say that their financial situation has improved over the last year.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the four provinces was asked, “Keeping in mind your financial situation, kindly please tell during the last one year have your household´s financial situation improved, worsened or remained the same?”

In response to this question, 45 percent said that their financial situation was better than before, 21 percent said it was worse than before, 34 percent said it was the same as before. This question is used as a proxy across the world for gauging consumers’ confidence in the economy currently, and a predictor for the future.

Gallup Pakistan is currently in process of setting up a consumer confidence index. The study was released by Gilani Research Foundation and carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International.

The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 1,835 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during August 1 - August 8, 2016. Error margin is estimated to be approximately ±2-3 percent at 95 percent confidence level.