# Pakistan’s Budget Transparency Improves 50% in Two Years
**ISLAMABAD:** Pakistan’s budget transparency has improved by 50% over the past two years, with the country’s score rising from **30 out of 100 in 2023 to 45 in 2025**, Advisor to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said, citing the latest Open Budget Survey (OBS) by the International Budget Partnership (IBP).
According to the OBS, Pakistan’s latest score is now equal to the **global average of 45**, placing the country ahead of several regional and international peers, including India (44), Sri Lanka (43), Bangladesh (37), Nigeria (24) and China (19).
The Open Budget Survey is an independent global assessment of budget transparency, public participation and oversight of public finances. Its latest findings indicate significant progress in several areas previously identified as weaknesses in Pakistan’s 2023 assessment.
Pakistan’s **Executive’s Budget Proposal score increased from 43 to 57**, while its **Enacted Budget score improved from 33 to 50**.
The country also recorded substantial progress in its Year-End Report, which had previously been published with delays. Meanwhile, the public participation score increased from **15 to 22**, taking Pakistan above both the global average of 17 and the Asia-Pacific average of 18.
The improvement in public participation reflects efforts to expand stakeholder consultations, strengthen engagement before and after the budget and increase parliamentary input into the budget-making process.
The IBP also acknowledged improvements in the timely online publication of the Year-End Report and the availability of more comprehensive information in the Executive’s Budget Proposal.
The latest OBS findings are also broadly supported by the **U.S. State Department’s fiscal transparency assessment**, which identified several strengths in Pakistan’s fiscal framework.
The assessment noted that Pakistan’s enacted budget and Year-End Report were widely accessible, while planned revenues and expenditures were substantially disclosed. It also recognized generally reliable budget information, independent audit oversight and transparent frameworks governing natural-resource awards and public procurement.
However, the U.S. assessment also identified areas requiring further improvement, particularly the **timely publication of budget documents** and fuller disclosure of certain public-sector financial information.
The latest assessments suggest that while Pakistan has made notable progress in fiscal transparency, further reforms are needed to ensure timely disclosure, broader public participation and greater accountability in the management of public finances.
