Survey shows PML-N's approval rating increases to 32 percent over PTI's 29 percent

ISLAMABAD: For the first time since the 2018 general elections, the approval rating of the major opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has increased to 32 percent over 29 percent of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI).

This transpires from a survey recently carried out by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR), which states that 32pc people responded that they will vote for PML-N while 29 percent opted for PTI.

"13 percent respondents said they would vote for the PPP," it added.

In the survey, 46 percent respondents believe that Imran Khan will be a good prime minister, while 44 percent believe he would be bad. 21 percent respondents support Imran Khan for "change"; 19 percent for honesty and development work; and 16 percent for fight against corruption. Those respondents who disapprove of him cite lack of political experience (22 percent); bad for country (15 percent) and U-turns and non-seriousness (11 percent).

The survey showed that in Punjab 50 percent respondents would vote for the PML-N and 31 percent for PTI; in KP 45 percent respondents would vote for the PTI and 12 percent for PML-N; in Sindh 35 percent respondents would vote for the PPP, 18 percent for PTI and 10 percent for PML-N; and in Balochistan 16 percent respondents would vote for the PPP, 12 percent for MMA, 10 percent for PkMAP and 8 percent for PTI.

On the budget, 52 percent respondents expressed dissatisfaction, while 21 percent respondents supported it.

Despite facing severe backlash from masses on a host of issues due to sudden surge in petroleum prices, the popularity of Prime Minister Imran Khan does not seem to be dwindling as 63 percent Pakistanis are satisfied with his policy of smart lockdown to battle Covid-19.

It shows that among 52 percent of the satisfied Pakistanis, 25 percent said the performance was very good and 27 percent believe it was good. As many as 63 percent respondents support the policy of smart lockdown by PM Khan.

At the same time, a good number of 42 percent seem dissatisfied with the prime minister's response to the pandemic -- 14 percent said that the Centre showed bad performance while 28 percent said it was very bad.

In comparison with the measures taken by Sindh against Covid-19, majority of the people vouched for PM Khan's strategy of smart lockdown, dismissing the idea of completely shutting down the public places as repeatedly stressed by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

According to the survey, only 21 percent put weight behind the chief minister of Sindh as compared to 63 percent of those Pakistanis who are fond of PM Khan's policy of smart lockdown.

About the single most important issue facing Pakistan, 26 percent respondents said unemployment, 14 percent thought it was loadshedding, 13 percent said it was corruption, 12 percent believe inflation is the main issue, while 8 percent each believe drinking water and poverty are the main issues of Pakistan.

The survey revealed that 33 percent of the respondents believed that the carelessness exhibited by masses was the reason for the spread of the virus, while 11 percent believe that a "lenient" lockdown was behind the spread.

The report also said that a majority of the population, 67 percent, are ready to get themselves vaccinated if a vaccine for the novel virus is available in Pakistan while 25 percent expressed doubts and said they would not get vaccinated.

Explaining the reason behind not getting vaccinated, 19 percent of respondents said it couldn't be trusted, 17 percent believed it wasn't needed, 15 percent expressed the virus was nothing but a rumour, and 13 percent claimed it would kill them.

The IPOR poll of 1,702 adults was conducted during June 19-30 through Computer Assisted Telephonic Interviews (CATI). It had 54 percent of respondents from Punjab, 23 percent from Sindh, 17 percent from KP and 6 percent from Balochistan.

The survey consisted of 54 percent male participants and 46 percent female. Of these, 19 percent were from the age group 18-25, 47 percent were between 26 and 40 years old, 20 percent were between 41 and 50, and 14 percent were above 50 years of age.

To a question that thinking about the country as a whole, are the things heading in the right direction or the wrong direction, 35 percent respondents said things are headed in right direction, while 64 percent said things are headed in wrong direction.

Meanwhile, a government spokesman said the government is headed in right direction and it was the best budget under the circumstances which has been passed with ease. The spokesman said different institutions conduct different surveys and its results are not necessarily spot on all the times. The spokesman said the PTI will win the next election due to its performance and action against corruption. He insisted that the popularity of the PTI is intact and it will enhance further.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020