US State Dept report puts Pakistan among 67 nations falling short on fiscal transparency

Profit by Pakistan Today reported that a US State Department assessment, its 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report, placed Pakistan among 67 countries that do not meet the document's minimum transparency criteria. The annual review asks the government to speed up public release of its executive budget proposal and to publish fuller details on government borrowing, especially obligations linked to large state-owned enterprises. Pakistan's enacted budget and year-end report were found to be broadly and easily available online during the review window.

The report says the executive budget proposal was not made public on time and debt data was only partly disclosed, though planned spending and revenue were largely covered. The review also flagged military and intelligence budgets as lacking adequate parliamentary or civilian scrutiny. Budget data was considered generally reliable, the audit body was judged independent by international standards, and natural resource awards were seen as following legal criteria.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told his weekly briefing that Pakistan follows internationally recognised practices on budgeting and financial disclosure, which he linked to its constitutional and regulatory framework. He pointed to an IMF programme focused on structural reform, three completed reviews, and credit rating upgrades from three rating agencies and the Fund. The report credits several areas but lists three steps: publishing the budget proposal on time, disclosing detailed debt data, and placing military budgets under oversight.