ISLAMABAD – According to a nationwide poll conducted this month, most Pakistanis blame their federal government for an unequal distribution of resources among provinces, raising questions regarding fiscal decentralization and interprovincial equity.
Gallup Pakistan conducted a poll in July 2025 which revealed that six out of every ten respondents, or 60%, held their central government accountable for disparate allocation of national resources. These results demonstrate the growing dissatisfaction among citizens regarding economic imbalances and governance challenges at a federal level.
The survey, which polled over 3,000 adults across all four provinces, is part of an ongoing public opinion research initiative which seeks to gain an insight into public perceptions of federalism, governance and regional autonomy.
Balochistan and Sindh respondents raised more serious concerns regarding resource misallocation and perceived neglect; over 75% of participants in Balochistan said they felt their province had been consistently underfunded and underrepresented in development planning processes.
These findings underscore the necessity of reviewing current resource distribution mechanisms to ensure all federating units feel they are receiving equitable treatment, according to Dr. Ijaz Gilani, Chairman of Gallup Pakistan. As public perception gaps between provinces widen, this sentiment could widen existing political divides without intervention from inclusive policymaking processes.
Survey results also demonstrated that only 18% of respondents believe the federal government is allocating resources equitably, with another 22% either not knowing or having mixed views. Analysts speculated that these numbers may have implications for provincial-federal relations in light of debates surrounding the National Finance Commission Award – the constitutional mechanism which regulates resource sharing.
Pakistan’s National Finance Commission Award (NFCA) has long been a source of contention, with provinces accusing the Centre of delaying implementation or failing to revise its formula to reflect population growth and development needs. Since 2010, when consensus-based allocation was agreed upon for NFC Awards, efforts at updating this award have encountered political obstacles as well as disagreement over vertical/horizontal distribution formulas.
“This survey illustrates a central governance challenge in Pakistan: finding an equitable balance between central authority and provincial autonomy,” according to political analyst Ayesha Raza. Unless trust is rebuilt through transparent needs-based distribution, regional grievances will only continue to fester further.
Public perception of unfairness was strongly linked to how the federal government handles disaster response and development projects, with many respondents reporting delays in infrastructure repair, education funding and water resource management — areas requiring federal-provincial cooperation.
As Pakistan prepares for NFC negotiations, these survey findings may add pressure on Islamabad to address provincial concerns. A number of political parties, particularly from Sindh and Balochistan have signaled their intention to push for a formula which ensures more balanced fiscal federalism.
The survey report concludes with suggestions for improved transparency, data-sharing, and greater participation from provincial representatives in federal decision-making processes.
With economic uncertainty and political volatility having an adverse impact on trust between citizens, equitable resource distribution remains a critical element that could shape national debate prior to future general elections.