The COVID-19 pandemic challenged Pakistani CSOs with funding freezes and halted operations. To strengthen their resilience, Accountability Lab Pakistan trained over 60 organizations to adapt through financial planning, digital transformation, transparent communication and collaboration. These workshops helped CSOs realign their missions, invest in staff well-being and embed learning into their systems building a stronger, more accountable and resilient nonprofit ecosystem ready for future crises.

Trust in public institutions isn’t built behind closed doors; it begins with open access to information. This thought piece explores how proactive disclosure and open data can transform governance by making development visible, decisions traceable, and public trust stronger. With relatable local examples, it makes the case for shifting from reactive transparency to a culture where transparency, responsive and inclusive governance is the default, not the exception.

Written by: Muhammad Abubakar Pakistan faces a daunting fiscal landscape where reforming the taxation system is central to fostering economic stability. The country's tax-to-GDP ratio of 9% in 2024 remains among the lowest globally, starkly contrasting with regional peers like India (16.7%) and developed nations such as Sweden, which consistently exceed 20%. This disparity reflects systemic inefficiencies, including a narrow tax base, rampant evasion, and over-reliance on indirect taxes, disproportionately burdening lower-income groups. Pakistan's fiscal challenges demand bold, transformative action. Incremental measures will no longer suffice. The nation can unlock sustainable growth by prioritizing tax reform, fostering economic transparency, and investing in high-potential sectors. However, this requires unwavering political will and robust public support. The question remains: will Pakistan rise to the occasion?