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29-06-2024
By SJA Jafri
KARACHI: Karachi, the port city that once gleamed with state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern education, has been ranked as the least liveable city in global survey once again.
The Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister organization to The Economist, has ranked 173 cities across the globe on a number of significant factors, including health care, culture and environment, stability, infrastructure and education, CNN reported.
The scores of the cities were awarded on a scale from one to 100, with one signifying an intolerable living situation and 100 representing an ideal one.
According to the report, Karachi has been placed at the 169th position, receiving an overall score of 42.7, with a failure to perform well particularly in the stability indicator, scoring only 20.
The megalopolis received scores of 54.2 for healthcare, 35.9 for culture and environment, 75 for education, and 51.8 for infrastructure.
Meanwhile, other cities, including Lagos in Nigeria, Algiers in Algeria Tripoli in Libya and Damascus in Syria trail right behind Karachi with even worse living conditions.
The report comes at a time when Pakistan is facing a protracted political and economic crisis.
On the contrary, Austrian city Vienna continues to reign at the top of the list with a remarkable overall score of 98.4. Denmark’s Copenhagen retained its second position, while Switzerland’s Zurich moved up from sixth place to third on the list.
Western Europe performed well as 30 cities scored an average score of 92 out of 100, but the region saw an overall decline in stability scores, which was attributed to “increasing instances of disruptive protests” and crime.
Top 10 ‘most liveable cities’ of 2024, 1. Vienna-Austria, 2. Copenhagen-Denmark, 3. Zurich-Switzerland, 4. Melbourne-Australia, 5. Calgary-Canada, 5. Geneva-Switzerland, 7. Sydney-Australia, 7. Vancouver-Canada, 9. Osaka-Japan, 9. Auckland-New Zealand
Meanwhile, Mercer’s Cost of Living City Ranking 2024 survey has revealed that Karachi and Islamabad are among the top five most affordable cities to live in the world. The survey, which ranked 226 cities this year, highlighted significant regional cost variations, particularly for potential migrants and international workers.
Most Affordable Cities; Abuja-Nigeria (226), Lagos-Nigeria (225), Islamabad-Pakistan (224), Bishkek-Kyrgyzstan (223), Karachi-Pakistan (222).
The cost of living in these cities is significantly lower, driven largely by currency depreciation.
Most Expensive Cities; Hong Kong (1), Singapore (2) and Zurich, Switzerland (3)
While Karachi and Islamabad offer affordability, the most expensive cities remain Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich, maintaining their positions from last year. High living costs in these cities are due to expensive housing markets, high transportation costs, and the overall high cost of goods and services.
Several key economic factors have influenced these rankings. Inflation, exchange-rate fluctuations, and geopolitical volatility significantly impact the cost of living in major cities.
Asia: After Hong Kong and Singapore, the most expensive cities in Asia include Shanghai (23), Beijing (25), and Seoul (32).
Europe: Western Europe features prominently among the most expensive cities, with Switzerland home to four of the top ten. London has also entered the top ten, ranked 8th. Other expensive European cities include Copenhagen (11), Vienna (24), Paris (29), and Amsterdam (30).
Middle East: Dubai has become the most expensive city in the Middle East, ranking 15th globally. It is followed by Tel Aviv (16), Abu Dhabi (43), Riyadh (90), and Jeddah (97).
North America: New York City remains the priciest city in North America, ranked 7th globally. Nassau, Bahamas (9), Los Angeles (10), Honolulu (12), and San Francisco (13) also feature in the top ranks.
