Karachi at 170: Judged Against the Impossible
When the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Karachi 170th out of 173 cities in its 2026 Global Livability Index, the verdict appeared damning. The headlines wrote themselves: Karachi is among the world's least livable cities.
By Faheem Ahmed July 16, 2026 (MLN): When the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Karachi 170th out of 173 cities in its 2026 Global Livability Index, the verdict appeared damning. The headlines wrote themselves: Karachi is among the world's least livable cities. But before celebrating Vienna or lamenting Karachi, one obvious question deserves to be asked. What exactly is being compared? The EIU asks read...