A recent survey conducted by Ipsos across the country showed that the Pakistan Army was the most trusted institution with 74% approval ratings. As per the survey, the second most trusted institution of the country, according to the respondents who were in the age group of 18 to 34, is the Supreme Court of Pakistan with an approval rating of 58 percent. Media is the third largest trusted institution whereas political parties’ approval rating as per the respondents is 50 percent.
The findings of the survey are in line with the overall perception and thinking in the country about the role and services of the Pakistan Army, which never disappointed people of Pakistan. It is also important to note that the Army has the highest rating despite malicious propaganda unleashed by some vested interests, especially on the social media and attempts made by some foreign powers to portray the institution as well as the premier intelligence agency of the country, the ISI, negatively as part of their agenda to weaken and destabilize Pakistan. However, the positive perception of the Pakistan Army is not without reason as the institution always kept interests of the country in view. Be it defence of the geographical frontiers of the country, internal security challenges or natural disasters, Pakistan Army has been in the forefront of the efforts to tackle all changes and provide much-needed peace of mind to the people. Apart from thwarting attempts against sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the Pakistan Army rendered tremendous sacrifices during its war against terror which threatened the very survival of the country a few years back. Perceptions keep on changing but it is an undeniable reality that the popularity of the Army increased significantly during the last one year due to its active involvement in implementation of plans and policies aimed at addressing some chronic ills of the economy which have direct bearings on the day-to-day life of the citizens. As for other institutions, they can also excel provided their leadership makes consistent efforts to reform and make them responsive to the aspirations of the people.
