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Published on: 06/11/2026 - 09:56

Exasperated by hours of power cuts, the residents of Karachi took to the streets and blocked several axes of Pakistan's economic heart. An anger which illustrates the daily dysfunctions of a megacity of more than 21 million inhabitants, once again classified among the least livable cities on the planet.

In its 2026 global ranking of living conditions, the Economist Intelligence Unit places Karachi 170th out of 173 cities, ahead of only Dhaka in Bangladesh, Tripoli in Libya and Damascus in Syria. A paradox for the economic heart of Pakistan, which concentrates jobs, businesses and a large part of the national wealth.

But its residents face monster traffic jams, insufficient public transport, crime and shortages on a daily basis: Karachi only receives around 55% of the water it needs and some neighborhoods experience up to nineteen hours of power cuts per day.

The city also produces nearly 15,000 tons of waste daily, almost a quarter of which does not reach landfills. Despite the major urban projects launched in recent years, infrastructure is struggling to keep up with Karachi's unbridled growth.

Also review: Karachi, capital of crime

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