• Analysis
Daily Life in Karachi: Protests Over Power Cuts in a City Ranked Near the Bottom for Liveability
Residents of Karachi, Pakistan's economic hub of over 21 million people, blocked major roads to protest power cuts lasting up to 19 hours a day. In the Global Liveability Index 2026, the city ranks 170th out of 173.
Protests over power cuts
Daily life in Karachi has spilled onto the streets: fed up with hours-long power cuts, residents of Pakistan's economic hub blocked several major roads in recent days. In some neighbourhoods, the outages stretch to 19 hours a day.
- •Power cuts of up to 19 hours a day in some areas
- •Several major roads blocked by demonstrators in recent days
Ranked among the world's least liveable cities
The Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index 2026 places Karachi 170th out of 173 cities, ahead of only Dhaka, Tripoli and Damascus. It is not the first time the megacity has sat near the bottom of the ranking.
Shortages, traffic and crime
Behind the ranking lie chronic shortfalls in the basics of city life:
- •The city receives only around 55 percent of the water it needs
- •Residents face crippling traffic congestion, inadequate public transport and crime
- •Karachi generates nearly 15,000 tonnes of waste every day, and almost a quarter never reaches landfill sites
Growth outpacing infrastructure
Karachi is home to a large share of Pakistan's businesses, jobs and wealth, a weight carried by a population of over 21 million. Yet despite several major urban development projects in recent years, the city's infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with its rapid growth.
