Pakistan’s enabling environment for civil society is shaped by the intersecting pressures of a volatile political landscape and an economy still recovering from the 2022–2023 financial crisis, marked by high inflation, external debt stress and IMF-backed austerity measures. While macroeconomic indicators have improved, these gains have not translated into broad microeconomic stability, with fiscal constraints continuing to affect citizens and civil society.

The aftermath of the contentious February 2024 general elections has deepened political polarisation and affected how the state engages with citizens and the organisations that represent them. Heightened tensions have contributed to the erosion of fundamental freedoms, as authorities increasingly resort to pre-emptive bans on public gatherings, censorship and restrictive interpretations of the law.

Legal and administrative frameworks are often used to control rather than enable civil society, through opaque vetting processes, administrative hurdles and restrictions on foreign funding. Economic pressures have further reduced domestic funding opportunities, threatening the sustainability of CSOs.

As a result, the state has become less open and responsive, favouring selective engagement over meaningful participation. Public discourse often portrays critical CSOs as threats to national interest, while internet shutdowns and surveillance have expanded state control over the digital environment.