Lahore has become Pakistan’s highest-ranked city for the first time in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026. It climbed 40 places to 169th globally, ahead of Karachi in 174th. Their total scores differ by only about 1.4%.
Lahore’s score rose 66% to 4.693, compared with Karachi’s 4.628. Karachi’s growth rate is not specified in the section used here. Five global ranking places therefore correspond to a very narrow score gap.
| Ecosystem | Global rank | Score | Score change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore | 169 | 4.693 | 66 |
| Karachi | 174 | 4.628 | Not specified |
Two closely matched hubs
A location choice based solely on rank offers limited information when scores are this close. Customer access, staffing and relevant partners are more practical considerations.
The change does not establish a business exodus from Karachi. Karachi also climbed globally, by 16 places. Lahore advanced faster, changing their relative order while both improved their positions.
Strong national momentum
Pakistan ranks 67th among countries after gaining five places. Its national score grew 62.2%, the highest rate in South Asia according to the report. Four Pakistani cities appear in the global top 1,000, all with positive growth.
National and city measures use different calculation bases. They provide complementary levels of analysis rather than percentages that can be added or averaged together.
Moving from ranking to partner assessment
The result presents foreign businesses with two closely matched hubs. It does not establish the quality of a particular supplier or the operating conditions in a specific sector.
Product experience, international customers and team stability offer more practical evidence than the narrow difference between 169th and 174th place. The central finding is Lahore’s stronger momentum alongside a still-competitive Karachi.
