KARACHI – Karachi has once again been ranked among the world’s least liveable cities, according to the 2025 Global Liveability Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
In this year’s survey, Karachi was placed 170th out of 173 cities, with an overall score of 42.7 out of 100. Only Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tripoli (Libya), and Damascus (Syria) ranked lower.
Karachi remains the only Pakistani city included in the global index. In comparison, the top spots were secured by Copenhagen (98.0), Vienna (97.1), Zurich (97.1), Melbourne (97.0), and Geneva (96.8).
Vienna, which had held the top spot from 2022 to 2024, dropped to second place this year after a fall in its stability score due to two attempted terror attacks — one targeting a Taylor Swift concert and another at a train station.
Karachi’s ranking has shown little improvement over the years. In 2024, it was placed 169th, alongside cities like Lagos, Tripoli, Algiers, and Damascus.
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The EIU’s liveability index evaluates living conditions in 173 cities worldwide, helping governments and organizations compare urban development and quality of life.
Top 10 Most Liveable Cities (2025):
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Vienna, Austria
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Zurich, Switzerland
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Melbourne, Australia
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Geneva, Switzerland
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Sydney, Australia
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Osaka, Japan
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Auckland, New Zealand
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Adelaide, Australia
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Vancouver, Canada
In a separate report published in October 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) noted that liveability in Pakistan’s cities is worsening, with urban areas becoming more inefficient.
The ADB highlighted growing social inequality in Karachi. It observed that wealthier citizens mostly reside in cantonment areas and private housing societies, while lower-income families are concentrated in Karachi East, the city’s most crowded district.
Karachi Launches Municipal Bonds to Raise Development Funds
In a significant step towards urban development, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has announced the launch of municipal bonds to finance city improvement projects.
Speaking at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, Wahab became the first mayor of Karachi to ring the PSX bell, marking the official start of the project-backed bond initiative.
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The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), in partnership with the PSX, plans to raise funds for long-term projects involving the KMC, Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), and Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB).
One of the major projects includes a multi-storey parking plaza near the PSX building on I.I. Chundrigar Road, aiming to ease traffic and promote pedestrian use. Another similar parking facility is planned at the Railway Ground, with funding in place and final approvals pending.
