ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday stressed the need to promote a fact-based national narrative and urged the business community to develop global brands, transform districts into export centres and serve as ambassadors of “Brand Pakistan.”
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Pakistan’s first indigenous Index of Transparency and Accountability (iTAP), launched by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in collaboration with Ipsos here at the FPCCI Capital House.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the public and private sectors, civil society, academia and media, while FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh and Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI Mian Zahid Hussain also spoke on the occasion.
The iTAP initiative was conceived in May 2025 as a strategic effort by FPCCI to develop an indigenous, recurring benchmark to measure transparency, accountability and public trust in government and institutions.
The field survey was conducted during December 2025 and January 2026 to ensure contemporary and nationally representative insights.
Organizers said the findings established a credible reform baseline showing that, despite negative perceptions, a majority of citizen interactions with public institutions were reported to be corruption-free, highlighting the need for stronger awareness and communication of institutional improvements to enhance governance and investment outlook.
Addressing the ceremony, the minister cited survey findings and said perception about corruption often differed from ground realities, adding “Negative narratives about the country must be replaced with facts and data.”
He warned that repeated negative messaging for political purposes had undermined national confidence, discouraged investment, increased the cost of doing business and hurt exports. Negative perceptions left unaddressed could distort realities and slow national progress, he added.
Congratulating FPCCI for bringing transparency and accountability to the forefront of national discourse with rigour and commitment, Ahsan Iqbal said these principles formed the foundation of good governance and were essential for citizen satisfaction, investor confidence, a business-enabling environment and sustainable national development.
He said consistent tracking of iTAP could serve as a powerful monitoring and reform tool, reinforcing the principle that measurable performance drives improvement.
“No country in the world is completely free of corruption, the difference lies in its level, response and perception,” he said, describing Pakistan as a normal state with challenges as well as vast potential and talent.
Referring to international assessments, the minister said institutions including the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Fitch and Moody’s, along with leading global financial publications, had acknowledged Pakistan’s recent economic improvements, though domestic pessimism often overshadowed these gains.
He appreciated FPCCI’s initiative and urged the business community to move beyond products and focus on building brands and value chains. “Nations sell brands before they sell products. Trust in quality begins with trust in the country,” he said.
He called for converting districts into export hubs by leveraging local strengths, ranging from Gwadar’s indigenous food products to Thar’s handmade goods, and said Pakistan’s cultural and geographic diversity was its core economic asset.
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to adopt a high-performance mindset, saying consistent leadership, confidence and continuity were essential for national development and global competitiveness.