Karachi, the financial hub and largest metropolis of Pakistan, has once again found itself on the list of least livable cities in the world, according to the Global Livability Index 2023 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Out of a total of 173 cities, Karachi secured the 169th position, ranking higher only than poverty-stricken cities such as Lagos, Algiers, Tripoli, and Damascus.
The city, with a population of over 18 million, performed poorly across all indicators, earning an overall score of 42.5, which is lower than the average. The EIU index evaluates cities based on various factors including post-Covid recovery, stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The livability factor is assessed on a scale of 1 to 100, with 1 being considered intolerable and 100 being deemed supreme.
Karachi’s weak performance was particularly evident in the stability indicator, with a mere score of 20. In terms of healthcare, the provincial capital received a score of 50, 75 for education, 51.8 for infrastructure, and 38.7 for culture.
In the previous year’s index, Karachi was ranked 136th out of 140 cities, indicating a further decline in its livability score.
On the other hand, Vienna, the capital of Austria, secured the top spot for the second consecutive year with a perfect score of 100 on four out of the five indicators. Cities like Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney, Vancouver, Zurich, Calgary, Geneva, Toronto, and Osaka also ranked among the most livable cities in the world.
The results of the Global Livability Index highlight the challenges that Karachi faces in terms of improving the quality of life for its residents. Efforts to address issues related to stability, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture are crucial to enhance the livability of the city and create a better environment for its inhabitants.
