Pakistanis' Opinion About NGOs' Performance Improves by 14pc

The public opinion about non-governmental organizations has remained divided in the country for the last many years. There is a split public opinion about the working and agenda of the NGOs operating in the country.

There are many people who believe the NGOs undermine the sovereignty of the state. These people claim the organizations operate to carry forward ‘certain agenda’ of their foreign financiers.

But there are many people too who say the NGOs are making significant contributions towards the development of society. NGOs are playing a commendable role in protecting and preserving fundamental rights of the masses and uplifting the socio-economic conditions of unprivileged sections of the society.

A recent survey reveals that the approval of NGOs performance among Pakistanis has improved and greater numbers of people now commending the performance of the NGOs.

Over a period of seven years, 14 per cent increase in the proportion of Pakistanis, who think that the performance of NGOs is commendable, has been witnessed.

According to a Gallup & Gilani Pakistan National Survey conducted in the year 2011 (07 years ago), respondents were asked, “Kindly tell what you think about the performance of NGOs whether it was very good, good, satisfactory, bad or very bad?”

In response to this question, 4 per cent said it was very good, 13 per cent said it was good leading to a positive approval rating of only 17 per cent, 31 per cent said it was satisfactory, 21 per cent said it was bad, 17 per cent said it was very bad, leading to a negative rating of 38 per cent while 14 per cent did not know or respond to the question.

Comparative Picture:

The question was asked again in 2018 to enable a concrete comparison. In 2018, 7 per cent said NGOs’ performance was very good, 24 per cent said it was good leading to a positive approval rating of 31 per cent, 25 per cent said it was satisfactory, 22 per cent said it was bad, 11 per cent said it was very bad leading to a negative rating of 33 per cent while 11 per cent did not know or respond to the question.

There has been 14 per cent increase in the proportion of Pakistanis who think that NGOs’ performance is commendable (very good or good) while 5 per cent decline in the proportion of Pakistanis who think that the performance has been bad (very bad or bad).

It should be noted however that even now 1 in 3 Pakistanis have a negative view of NGOs.