Islamabad, A comprehensive analysis by Gallup Pakistan has revealed that a significant majority (72%) of candidates who stood for elections in Pakistan in 2018 possess a passport. This finding is part of Gallup Pakistan’s Big Data Analysis initiative, which scrutinizes various aspects of data available in Pakistan.

According to Gallup Pakistan, the findings shared from the ‘ECP Nomination Papers 2018’ and as part of Gallup Pakistan’s Big Data Analysis Series, this initiative, led by Bilal I Gilani, Executive Director of Gallup Pakistan, aims to make extensive data sets in Pakistan more accessible and usable for academics, policymakers, and the public. The series has previously worked with data sets from various national surveys and reports. This particular edition focuses on the passport possession among election candidates in 2018 and aims to provide insightful data points for socio-political analysis.

The key findings of the current edition reveal that out of the 72% of election candidates in 2018 who own a passport, less than half (41%) have actually traveled abroad. Additionally, the educational breakdown of these passport holders is notable: 94% of them hold a Ph.D., 87% are professional engineers, 84% have a graduate degree, 83% hold a professional degree, and 81% possess a postgraduate degree.

This data not only highlights the high level of education among the candidates but also suggests a potential global exposure that could influence their perspectives and policymaking. The analysis by Gallup Pakistan is expected to trigger discussions and insights in relevant circles regarding the implications of these findings on the development sector and the wider socio-political landscape in Pakistan.