'We deserve medals': Ayesha Omar on Karachi's poor liveability ranking

Actor reacts after city placed 170th out of 173 in global liveability index

Actor Ayesha Omar conveyed concern regarding Karachi’s poor infrastructure, saying the city's residents "deserve medals" for living and surviving in the metropolis.

Resharing a post regarding the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2026, which placed Karachi at the 170th position out of 173 cities evaluated, Ayesha wrote, "we are not surprised." The index placed Karachi at low ratings of stability, healthcare, environment, and infrastructure, with Dhaka, Tripoli, and Damascus ranking lower.

Screengrab: ayesha.m.omar/Instagram

The actor added, "We deserve medals to exist and survive there, commuting on broken polluted roads, stuck for long hours in traffic jams, with limited gas/electricity in our homes, fear of constantly being mugged in our hearts, rushing and hustling in flight-or-fight mode, while working hard, paying all taxes and contributing to the economy."

Ayesha has been vocal on various challenges facing Pakistan. She was recently included in a BBC Global Women report, where she called for technology companies and AI developers to take image-based abuse more seriously.

 

 

 

 

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Ayesha also serves as Goodwill Ambassador for The Citizens Foundation, a non-profit aiming to bring education to underprivileged children in Pakistan.

On the career front, the actor recently featured in Mera Lyari, which depicted social issues such as crime, challenges facing Pakistani youth, and poverty, with an underlying message of hope for a better future.