Pakistan Reforms Report 2026 unveiled, highlights over 600 governance-related reforms in 2025

Islamabad (Web Desk): A detailed snapshot of Pakistan’s reform journey was presented on Monday with the launch of the Pakistan Reforms Report 2026 in the federal capital, outlining over 600 governance-related reforms undertaken across 135 federal ministries, divisions and their affiliated bodies during 2025, organisers said

The report has been compiled by Mishal Pakistan, the national partner institute of the World Economic Forum, and represents the second yearly edition of what is being described as the country’s first organised effort to chronicle governance reforms in a systematic manner. According to the document, the pace of reform accelerated sharply, recording activity nearly five times higher than the previous year.

Findings in the report suggest a noticeable transition in government priorities, moving beyond emergency stabilisation toward reinforcing long-term institutional capacity. The energy sector dominated the reform landscape, accounting for close to 40 per cent of the total initiatives, while law and justice, along with digital governance and information technology, followed, underscoring a growing focus on structural change and digital transformation.

More than 200 of the reforms were executed through digital systems aimed at increasing transparency and limiting administrative discretion. The report further states that fiscal and energy-sector decisions, including the renegotiation of independent power producer agreements, are expected to result in approximately Rs1.4 trillion in savings for the power sector.

Advances in the development of natural resources were also highlighted, including progress on the $6 billion Reko Diq copper and gold project and the introduction of new policies for tight gas and offshore exploration, collectively targeting around $5 billion in potential investment.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik, who attended the event as the chief guest, emphasised that credible and transparent documentation plays a critical role in strengthening public confidence and improving Pakistan’s image among international stakeholders and investors.

He noted that fact-based reporting helps redirect public discussion from promises to practical implementation and tangible outcomes.

Mishal Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Amir Jahangir said the purpose of the report is to build an institutional memory of reforms, making it possible to track progress over time and conduct deeper long-term assessments. Co-founder Puruesh Chaudhary added that the initiative is centred on recording reforms that enhance access, transparency and trust, particularly in areas such as digital governance, justice delivery and citizen-focused services.

The report notes that a large share of the documented reforms corresponds with Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on peace, justice and strong institutions, reflecting policy attention toward strengthening institutions, upholding the rule of law, improving accountability, modernising regulations and expanding public access to information.

While placing these reforms within the wider national setting of 2025 — a year marked by fiscal strain, security concerns and geopolitical pressures — the report observes that reform momentum persisted, especially in the areas of digitisation and regulatory modernisation.

Organisers clarified that the report is not meant to assess performance or rank political actors, but rather to serve as a factual record designed to help researchers, policymakers, investors and international partners better understand the evolving governance framework in Pakistan. The complete report has been made accessible online by Mishal Pakistan.