The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, in partnership with Mishal Pakistan, launched the country’s first comprehensive national assessment on freedom, the State of Freedom Report Pakistan 2026, in a gathering of policymakers, parliamentarians, diplomats, academics and civil society stakeholders.
Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, welcomed the report and highlighted the need for evidence-based policymaking, stronger citizen engagement and institutional accountability to reinforce constitutional governance. He argued that objective assessments and informed public debate are vital to strengthening democratic institutions and restoring public trust.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors at ISSI, praised Mishal Pakistan’s initiative and drew attention to Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation and a growing IT sector that is increasingly contributing to the national economy. He noted encouraging perceptions in the report about economic participation and women’s empowerment while stressing that economic security and governance performance require continued policy focus.
Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of Mishal Pakistan and co-author of the study, described the publication as an indigenous, evidence-based benchmark that evaluates six dimensions of freedom: Political Freedom, Civil Liberties, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Economic Freedom, Digital Freedom and Access to Information, and Social Inclusion, Gender and Public Trust. The report combines legal analysis, institutional indicators and expert consultations to reflect Pakistan’s constitutional and societal realities.
The study draws on a nationwide survey of approximately 2,000 respondents and establishes the first national benchmark on freedom and governance. Key findings include that 77 percent of respondents feel citizens are free to choose their profession, about 75 percent perceive businesses operate without undue government interference, and roughly 75 percent report positive views on women’s opportunities and empowerment. The report also highlights the country’s rapid uptake of digital platforms for information dissemination and civic participation.
Mr. Shafique Chaudhry, Executive Director of the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, urged sustained efforts to ensure institutional fairness, protection of rights and effective governance structures to build public confidence. Ms. Farzana Yaqoob, Eisenhower Fellow and former minister, emphasised that strengthening participation of women and marginalised groups in economic and political life is central to inclusive national development.
Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of the China-Pakistan Study Centre, observed that contemporary freedom encompasses not only constitutional guarantees but also economic opportunity, digital access, social inclusion, institutional fairness and public trust. The launch provided a platform for discussion on how the State of Freedom findings can inform policy reforms and civic engagement to improve governance outcomes across Pakistan.
