Pakistan, Feb. 4 -- Pakistan's latest attempt to quantify corruption arrived in Islamabad this week with fanfare-the country's first homegrown Index of Transparency and Accountability in Pakistan (iTAP). Launched by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with global pollster Ipsos, iTAP aims to gauge public trust in institutions. The initial findings have delivered a jarring paradox wherein, despite rampant distrust, a majority of citizens report that their everyday interactions with public institutions are corruption-free.

This disconnect between perception and personal experience speaks volumes. Surveys confirm that corruption is viewed as widespread and entrenched across the state-from the thana ...