Karachi vs Lahore

Karachi leads Lahore by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 45 to 41. Karachi grades better on 3 measures, Lahore on 1; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Karachi 45, Lahore 41
• OECD: Karachi 43, Lahore 41
• UN Tourism: Karachi 45, Lahore 47
• UNDRR: Karachi 30, Lahore 28

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Karachi 56, Lahore 56
• Economy and jobs: Karachi 63, Lahore 56
• Climate and hazards: Karachi 20, Lahore 10
• Water and environment: Karachi 31, Lahore 44
• Community and housing: Karachi 50, Lahore 25
• Access and continuity: Karachi 38, Lahore 38

Where Karachi is stronger

• Unemployment rate: 5.1 % of the labour force (region figure) (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Survey 2024-25, 2024–2025). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 27.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 15 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: 6.1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Monthly Review on Price Indices (CPI Urban), April 2025 – April 2026). Between 6 and 10: grade 2/4.

Where Lahore is stronger

• Green space: 22 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2023). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Pakistan: #95 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Pakistan: #95 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Karachi in full · Lahore in full

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