Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Seven in 10 Pakistanis believe the country will see an increase in women&#39;s participation in leadership roles in 2026, according to a new nationwide survey released by global market research and consulting firm Ipsos. The survey, conducted among 1,057 nationally representative Pakistanis between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2, 2025, found 70% of respondents consider it likely that Pakistan will witness greater female representation in leadership positions during the coming year. The findings come as Pakistan continues to grapple with challenges to gender parity in corporate boardrooms, political institutions, and civil society organizations. While the country has previously elected a female prime minister, women remain significantly underrepresented in senior decision-making roles across most sectors. The optimistic outlook on women&#39;s leadership advancement is part of broader positive sentiment among Pakistanis heading into 2026. The Ipsos Predictions Survey found 86% of respondents believe the new year will be better for them personally than 2025, with Sindh province showing the highest optimism at 91%, followed by Punjab at 85%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 83%, and Balochistan at 82%. Political continuity and digital life On the political front, 63% of Pakistanis expect the same political party to continue running the federal government in 2026. The survey also revealed a significant shift toward digital socialization, with 84% predicting people will spend more time socializing online rather than face-to-face in 2026. Despite this trend, 49% of respondents say they are likely to reduce their own social media usage in the coming year. Surge in personal resolutions Goal-setting increased among Pakistanis, with 75% reporting they have made personal resolutions for 2026. This is a significant increase from the 50% who made resolutions for 2025. Of those who set goals last year, 60% successfully achieved them. When asked about their personal resolutions for 2026, career and financial goals were the top priorities: 43% focused on career goals, while 34% on economic objectives. Meanwhile, 20% identified self-improvement goals, 15% family goals, 13% physical health goals, and only 9% mental health goals. Sports and politics Despite recent disappointing performances, 59% of Pakistanis believe the national cricket team will perform better in 2026 than it did in 2025, reflecting the enduring faith of fans in one of the country&#39;s most beloved institutions. The telephone-based survey used random-digit dialing and employed standardized five-point likelihood and four-point agreement scales for responses across Pakistan&#39;s four provinces.

Culture

The survey found that 7 in 10 Pakistanis believe the country will see an increase in women's participation in leadership roles in 2026.

70% Pakistanis expect more women in leadership roles: National survey

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded significant gains in digital connectivity and internet usage, with new official data showing a sharp rise in mobile access and online adoption across households and individuals nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has welcomed the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) findings released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) under the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) 2024-25, which demonstrate a substantial expansion in digital connectivity across the country, state-run APP reported.&nbsp;The survey indicates that over 96% of households in Pakistan have access to mobile or smartphone facilities, while more than 70% of these households are using internet services, compared to only 34% in 2019, said a press release. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leads in household-level digital access at 77%, reflecting encouraging progress.&nbsp;Improved affordabilityThis achievement is a matter of pride for the government of Pakistan and the regulator, highlighting sustained efforts toward deeper access, service availability, and improved affordability of handsets and internet facilities for households.&nbsp;At the individual level (aged 10+), mobile and smartphone ownership has increased from 45% in 2019 to 50% in 2025, while 92% of individuals are using mobile phones nationwide.&nbsp;Internet usage at the individual level has risen markedly from 17% in 2019 to 57% in 2025. It is encouraging to note that women and men are equally using the internet overall, with higher female usage in urban areas (71%) compared to men (67%).&nbsp;The survey also reflects growing digital awareness, safer online practices, and improved digital capabilities. PTA congratulates PBS on the release of HIES 2024-25, particularly the ICT indicators that provide a strong evidence base for informed policy making and regulatory planning.

Gadgets

The survey indicates that over 96% of households in Pakistan have access to mobile or smartphone facilities, while more than 70% of these households are using internet services, compared to only 34% in 2019.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan digital growth"

70% Pakistanis expect more women in leadership roles: National survey

Pakistan sees digital leap with 96% mobile access, 70% internet use

70% Pakistanis expect more women in leadership roles: National survey