Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, has been declared the fifth worst city to live in, according to The Livability Index 2023 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The index, which assesses living conditions across various categories, ranked Karachi at 169 out of 173 countries.
With an overall index score of 42.5, Karachi falls significantly short of the required living standards. It scored 75 in education, 50 in healthcare, and 51.8 in infrastructure. However, it received low scores of 38.7 in culture and environment and a mere 20 in stability.
Cities such as Vienna, Copenhagen, and Melbourne topped the list as the most livable cities. The survey, designed to assist companies in calculating hardship allowances for employees relocating to new cities, provides insights into the most and least desirable places to live.
The report highlights the resilience of cities in the Asia-Pacific region following the impact of the pandemic. It also suggests a slight improvement in living conditions compared to the past 15 years.
Karachi’s poor ranking underscores the challenges it faces in terms of stability, healthcare, infrastructure, and cultural and environmental aspects. The city’s low livability score raises concerns about the quality of life for its residents.
