KEY POINTS
- The city saw a dramatic 50% drop in crime from 2023 to 2025
- Smart policing, surveillance, and community engagement credited for Lahore’s security transformation
- Pakistan’s Capital Islamabad also gained global recognition, ranking 93rd with a strong safety index score of 67.9
ISLAMABAD: Amid escalating tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam incident, a quiet but remarkable story of hope, progress, and perception is unfolding in the heart of Pakistan: Lahore, once synonymous with chaotic charm and historical hustle, has emerged as one of the safest major cities in the world — outshining global heavyweights like London, New York, and Paris.
In the 2025 edition of the Numbeo Crime and Safety Index, Lahore ranked 37th globally for low crime and 63rd among the world’s safest cities, leapfrogging over 249 other metropolises — including some of the world’s most developed urban hubs.
The city that hugs the Indian border and pulses with Mughal history and modern ambitions is now being celebrated not just for its food and festivals, but for its falling crime and rising sense of security.
This is no statistical fluke. According to the data-driven index, which draws real-time, crowdsourced inputs from citizens worldwide, Lahore’s crime index sits at 37, and its safety index soars at 63 — far ahead of New York (50.7), Paris (51.1), Rome (48.8), and even London (47.6). It’s a seismic shift in perception, but one firmly anchored in fact.
Perhaps even more surprising is the transformation underway in Lahore itself. A city once criticized for overstretched law enforcement and burgeoning population pressure has witnessed a stunning drop in crime — a near 50% decrease in overall reported incidents from 2023 to 2025.
Robbery and homicide? Down 64%. Street crimes? Cut by more than half. Even vehicle theft — a long-standing urban nuisance — saw significant reductions across all categories.
Behind the numbers is a quiet urban revolution. Officials credit the turnaround to a blend of smart policing, real-time surveillance systems, improved community engagement, and political will.
Where once there were blind spots, now there are CCTV cameras. Where once residents felt abandoned, now there are helplines, rapid-response units, and neighbourhood watch programs.
“Lahore is not just surviving; it’s thriving,” said one security analyst. “And this recognition from Numbeo places it on the global map as a model city for safety — especially in the developing world.”
The Numbeo database, often used by governments, investors, and NGOs, is more than just a numbers game.
As the world’s largest crowdsourced platform for cost of living and quality of life data, it captures how people feel about their cities. And in Lahore, it seems, people are finally feeling safer.
The momentum isn’t isolated. Islamabad, the serene federal capital, also made its mark — ranked 93rd out of 380 cities worldwide, with a strong safety index of 67.9.
Previously declared a “family station” by the United Nations due to its high livability, Islamabad continues to serve as a symbol of relative peace and order in the region.
While headlines often focus on conflict, today, Lahore’s story offers a different narrative — one of transformation, resilience, and a city reimagining its future.
From the chaotic traffic of Ferozepur Road to the manicured lawns of Gulberg, there’s a growing sense that Lahore isn’t just rewriting its security script — it’s penning a new urban success story for South Asia.
