Ayesha Omar's Harsh Reaction to Karachi's Livability Crisis: 'They Deserve a Medal'

Famous Pakistani actress and social advocate Ayesha Omar has sparked a massive nationwide reaction by drawing attention to Karachi's collapsing urban infrastructure. Omar stated that the people struggling to survive in one of the world's least livable cities literally deserve a 'medal' for their resilience. These remarks came immediately following the release of the 2026 Global Livability Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The detailed annual report ranks cities based on core criteria such as stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure. Karachi anchored itself to the bottom of the list, ranking 170th out of 173 cities evaluated.

The fact that only cities such as Dakka, Trablus, and Şam are below Karachi in the aforementioned global index reveals the dire situation of the city. In her assessment of this low ranking, Omar used the striking expression 'not surprised,' stating that they are familiar with the situation. The report draws attention to the city's chronically fragile security structure, overburdened healthcare services, constantly deteriorating environmental conditions, and worn-out physical infrastructure. Going beyond these statistical data, the famous actress painted a picture displaying the real street life of the people. Omar emphasized that the people of Karachi are forced to cope with countless challenges, from going to work on ruined roads and enduring days-long traffic jams to intermittent electricity and gas consumption at home, and the fear of crime on the streets.

The city's residents are struggling to survive under the heavy burden of not receiving adequate basic services from the state. Omar stated that the people of Karachi pay their taxes fully and make significant contributions to the country's economy while constantly being in a 'fight or flight' mode, meaning they are always on high alert and trying to survive. However, the public's expectation of adequate infrastructure, security, and basic services from the state in return for their sacrifices is not being met. Omar's social sensitivity and advocacy activities are not limited to Karachi's urban despair. Through her far-reaching platform, she also courageously addresses other urgent issues on the country's agenda. In this context, she wages a major battle against the dark side of digitalization and warns tech giants and artificial intelligence developers.

Pointing out that women and minorities are disproportionately victimized in the field of digital security, Omar argues that a comprehensive legal infrastructure must be established to address this situation immediately. She demands much stronger regulations against image-based crimes, particularly non-consensual deepfake pornography and digital manipulation. Omar believes that such violations, which cause psychological and reputational damages, must be strictly prevented through content moderation algorithms. Emphasizing that the ethical responsibilities of the technology sector must be increased, the actress also collaborates with the legal system and civil society organizations to ensure legal accountability. Using her fame not just for personal gain but to be the voice of disadvantaged groups has turned her into a respected activist.

Omar's sensitivity is not limited to rhetoric; it takes a concrete form through her efforts for The Citizens Foundation (TCF), one of the largest civil society organizations in Pakistan. Serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for TCF, the artist works tirelessly to increase resources aimed at providing quality education to underprivileged children. Recently, Omar starred in a socially conscious project titled 'Mera Lyari', set in Lyari, one of Karachi's most marginalized areas. Addressing intertwined issues such as crime violence, the social exclusion of youth, and poverty, this production brought not only despair but also hope to the stage. With this project, the famous actress continues to advocate, with hope, for the possibility of a more just, more livable, and more promising future for all citizens of 巴基斯坦.