Peshawar :From the narrow streets of Dera Ismail Khan to the hills of Malakand, a growing sense of frustration is echoing across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A new Gallup Pakistan survey conducted earlier this year reveals a public weary of promises, fed up with poor services, and increasingly critical—even of the party they once supported.
The face-to-face survey, conducted with 3,000 residents between February and March 2025, paints a stark picture: despite over a decade of PTI rule in the province, confidence in governance is slipping. In some areas, it is collapsing.
“Nothing has changed. Roads were built long ago, but now we see nothing,” says a resident from rural Kohat. This sentiment is reflected in the numbers: only 43% of respondents report any new road projects since the 2024 elections, and just 37% see improvements in public transport.
Even among PTI loyalists, frustration is rising. Nearly half (49%) of PTI voters say there’s been no new development in their areas. 62% support corruption investigations into their own party’s past projects. This signals a turning tide: loyalty is no longer blind.
Economic discontent is even more pronounced. 59% report rising unemployment, and 67% believe the government has failed to provide business or job opportunities. Shockingly, over half of KP residents have never even heard of flagship economic initiatives like BizHub or the Bacha Khan Poverty Alleviation Program.
Public services also remain uneven. While access to clean water and education sits at 74%, healthcare access drops to 63%, and gas remains out of reach for two-thirds of households. Power shortages plague nearly half the province.
On justice and accountability, the modern court system is viewed with suspicion: 70% say court decisions take too long, and 50% believe the judiciary is corrupt. In contrast, 84% support the traditional Jirga system, reflecting a deep institutional trust deficit.
There are glimmers of approval—most notably, the Sehat Card program, praised by 83% of respondents for improving healthcare access. But that’s one of the few bright spots.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur doesn’t fare well either: just 38% believe he’s performing better than previous leaders, and 47% want Imran Khan to take over his post. In a telling comparison, 50% say Punjab’s CM is doing a better job than KP’s.
Perhaps most damning is how KP residents view their government’s priorities. A full 60% believe the province wasted time on protests and political theatrics rather than governance. And 85% want greater cooperation between the federal and provincial governments—a clear contradiction to the current KP administration’s confrontational stance.
A Province at a Crossroads
The findings of this survey are more than just numbers. They are a snapshot of a people who once believed in change, now questioning whether their voices are being heard at all. As Gallup Pakistan continues its nationwide assessment of provincial governance, KP’s results stand as both a warning and a call to action—for leadership to reconnect, reform, and rebuild trust.
