In a disappointing but familiar development, Karachi has been ranked 170th out of 173 cities in the latest Global Liveability Index 2025, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The report paints a grim picture of life in Pakistan’s largest metropolis, which continues to struggle with challenges like poor infrastructure, limited healthcare, and ongoing instability.

The EIU’s index evaluates cities worldwide based on five main categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Each factor is measured on a scale from “acceptable” to “intolerable.” Karachi’s overall score of 42.7 points reflects the difficulties its residents face daily, from unreliable public transport and traffic congestion to power shortages and urban pollution.

While Vienna, Austria retained its title as the world’s most livable city thanks to its world-class infrastructure and strong healthcare system, Karachi found itself among the bottom five, narrowly avoiding last place. Only Tripoli, Dhaka, and Damascus scored lower.

The persistent decline in livability rankings underscores a larger concern about urban planning and governance in South Asia’s major cities. Despite being a financial and cultural hub, Karachi continues to suffer from decades of underinvestment, mismanagement, and rapid, unregulated urban growth.

As global cities race ahead in terms of innovation and sustainability, Karachi’s place near the bottom serves as a sobering reminder of how urgent reform and infrastructure development have become, not just for global perception, but for the quality of life of its citizens.