Adil Najam
The Economist Intelligence Unit has released a new report on the liveability of major cities around the world according to which, Karachi is ranked fourth from the bottom amongst the 132 cities ranked. Karachi was also in the bottom 10 in the 2005 installment of the index.
At the very top of the list are Vancouver, Melbourne, Vienna, Perth and Toronto, in that order, starting with the best. And at the very bottom are Kathmandu, Karachi, Lagos, Dhaka and Algiers, in that order, ending with the worst. (I have not yet been able to get hold of the full report so cannot say which other Pakistani cities are listed and at which rank; if any reader knows this, please do share). The weighted index is measured from 0 to 100 in per cent points - with 0% being exceptional quality and 100% being intolerable. Karachi’s Liveability is placed at 58.6% on this scale.
According to The Eonomist’s website:
With low crime, little threat from instability or terrorism and a highly developed transport and communications infrastructure, Canada and Australia are home to the most liveable destinations in the world… While liveability considers factors of recreational and cultural activity, the “big city buzz” can hamper the scores of some cities, although not to the extent that a city will present significant challenges. Global centres such as New York, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong and Paris may find themselves let down precisely because of their size and attractiveness. Traffic congestion and higher crime rates associated with large urban centres have, to some extent, offset the obvious cultural gains of living in such locations. This has also been compounded by fears that large centres like London and New York will remain targets for high-profile terror attacks. Despite this, most major centres do not present any significant challenges to liveability.
Of the 132 cities surveyed, only nine cities present the worst-case scenario in which most aspects of living quality are severely restricted, reflecting general improvements on a global scale in areas such as education, health care and infrastructure. Four of these are in Asia, mainly South Asia. The other five are in Africa (accounting for three) and the Middle East (accounting for two). The threat of terrorism and civil unrest is a major contributing factor to the cities that suffer from the worst liveability scores, as are poor development indicators. Algiers is the least liveable destination in the survey, with a score of 64.7%.
It is, of course, sad but not really surprising that Karachi comes out where it comes out. As this blog has discussed on so many occasions, it is a city (like many other in Pakistan) beset with problems. Traffic congestion, infrastructure collapse, bad planning, unprepared for its own weather, a near-perpetual energy crisis, political unrest, terror incidents, and much more. Of course, as we have also highlighted, Karachi also remains a city that is alive with colorful memories, intellectual discourse, incredible food, a zest for life, talented people, some really far out attractions, a fascinating history, buzzing markets, wonderful architecture and much more.
Those who love Karachi love it despite its faults and because of its zest (here and here). But our love for this metropolis must never be at the cost of ignoring the real problems that it faces.
It would be too easy to concoct theories about how this ranking is some grant Western conspiracy against Karachi, against Pakistan, against Islam. It is not.
You can quibble about whether Karachi is the 4th lowest ranked or should be the 8th or the 10th or the 20th. But you cannot deny the fact that it has some very serious problems - as do, but more than, all other major cities in Pakistan. These are not problems that can be solved by erecting tall towers. They need deeper, more meaningful and more real solution… not just from government, but from all of us. The question, of course, is not just why the ranking is what it is, but what it would take to improve it.
Note: Thanks to TeethMaestro’s post at Karachi Metroblog for alerting me to this.
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I agree with Sabz “Teach your children the purpose of a trash can. Use it yourself whether you’re at home or at Zamzama having dinner. Don’t litter and then blame the government for not cleaning up your mess.”
We can clamour about lots of things that are out of our control but things that are in our control never get exercised. Having said this, I have seen only few people in my neighborhood who would take time to “jharoo” in the evening outside their home. Most have attributed this work to ‘jamadar’ and think beneath them.
Well, below article form today’s The News sums up the predicament, and the ranking, of Karachi. It is the people of the city, more than its infrastructure, that is to blame. While development of infrastructure and facilities need funds, improving personal attitudes do not.
http://tinyurl.com/3ynpbn
I agree with Bitter truth that we also need to develop other cities of Pakistan specially Hyderabad. Hyderabad is just 130 miles north of Karachi. If we have something like motor way between Hyderabad and Karachi, it will be a new fate of Hyderabad.
To the moderators:
Hi, it seems like my post count is not increasing…I wonder why….not that its extremely important but it gives me much-needed validation :(
Interesting article. I used to have a lot of respect for such quality publications as the Economist and big-time scientific journals like Nature, Science, etc. For the past 3-4 years, I’ve been involved in research full-time research and have come to realize that most of what passes as “scientific” is either insignificant, or just plain b.s.
Anyway, there is no doubt that Karachi has a LOT of problems. Clean water, reliable electricity connections, stable transport systems are nowhere near what they should be. Just today I was going around Karachi with a friend who is looking for a house….there was this 300 sq. yard house in the “prime” location of Bath Island which has an asking price of 3 crore rupees (roughly half million U.S. dollars). Despite its price and location (you’ll have both French and Italian consular officers as neighbors), the house does not have reliable water service (you’ll need to pay for a tanker to deliver water…probably daily) and the surrounding roads looked like they had been through a war (it rained a bit last week).
There are signs of progress, but things are definitely not under good management. Also, Shez, you really have to read the paper more often if you are harboring the absurd notion that Mustafa Kamal and the MQM have been good to the city. Alleged torture cells, gang and mafia activities, terrorism aside, I’ll just mention this one thing. Just last week I ran into a very old acquaintance whose father is in the road construction business. According to him, the current government has been a godsend for them. Their business process basically works like this: 1) his father looks at newspapers for tender advertisements 2) finds some he likes 3) calls either a retired brigadier or “uncle farooq sattar” and pays him around 5 lakhs up-front 4) “wins” the bid.
Sorry for the rant, back to the article. I think it’s obvious to everyone that the very idea of having a generic livability index for everyone is absurd…different people different environments. As usual, the Economist has tried hard to quantify the un-qunatifiable…they’ve tried to put a numeric value on generic “livability” by considering factors like transportation, safety, etc. Maybe they should also consider things like friends and family….that certainly puts Karachi at the very top of MY list! Seriously, how many of us would like to live in Vienna (I guess remnants of Nazism and racism wasn’t a factor)?
Beside addressing the issues in Karachi, government should develop some other cities so the inflow can be tackled.With people migrating to Karachi for jobs from all over the Pakistan, the problems will continue to increase. Government should particularly focus on developing other cities of Sindh like Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Larkana. The chief ministers have always been from interior Sindh but never attempt to develop it (to keep their feudalism intact)
I agree with the ranking. Karachi is a mess, the occasional tourist, or even most residents dont get to see the real karachi, with over 60% of the population living in slums, its un liveable in every possible way.
I like mustafa kamal, i think he is dynamic and forward looking. but i cant help but be pessemistic about its future.
Karachi’s problems are complex and beyond fixable by any one person. I agree with that observation. But I find that a lot of the problems / issues could be solved if the people of Karachi took some responsibility for them, instead of being a silent spectator.
For example, on each visit to Karachi, I am amazed by the massive homes of the rich in “posh areas” like Defence and Bath Island (love that term) with pristine driveways, and beautiful lawns, while their streets are pot-holed and in deplorable shape. So what if the government cannot come and fix your streets? These people have the means ($$$) to put together some funds and get the street fixed themselves. Fix your streets, fix your street lamps if they are broken, stop throwing your trash in every empty plot that happens to be in your neighborhood!
Teach your children the purpose of a trash can. Use it yourself whether you’re at home or at Zamzama having dinner. Don’t litter and then blame the government for not cleaning up your mess.
I think if more people took responsibility for their own actions, many of these problems can be somewhat resolved. True - not spitting pan on the sidewalk isn’t bringing electricity to your home, but at least I would be spared looking at the disgusting mess, or stepping into it.
One man, one action, one day at a time - plant a tree (or even a small gamla), clean up a sidewalk, don’t throw that pan wrapper out of your car window. Be kind to those around you and say “shukria” - yes, that includes your maasi and your driver and the waiter who just served you food.