Saba Qamar sparked a social media storm last week with her more than blunt comment about Karachi. When asked if she would ever move to the city, the actor replied, “Astaghfirullah, never!” – a remark that quickly divided the Internet. Karachiites responded by mocking Lahore and Islamabad – Qamar’s preferred cities – while residents of those cities fired back in defense.
Amid the heated online exchanges, actor Hina Khwaja Bayat, a proud Karachi native, stepped in with a message of reflection and unity. In a video shared on Instagram, she reminded people of the proverb “Think before you speak,” emphasising that careless words can cause unnecessary hurt.
Bayat said she has lived in Karachi her entire life and has witnessed both its rise and decline. Despite its struggles, she still calls it home and said she also appreciates Lahore for its “gardens and beautiful roads.” However, she noted that mocking other cities’ problems – such as Lahore’s pollution – does not solve anything.
Highlighting Karachi’s multicultural nature, Bayat described it as a city that represents all of Pakistan – amelting pot where people from every province live and work together. She acknowledged that criticism of the city is acceptable, but only if it’s constructive.
Bayat likened Pakistan to a house and its cities to different rooms, saying, “We must own our whole country, not just our cities.” She urged people from all regions to support each other, just as Karachiites have long stood up for others.
While Saba Qamar’s comments may have stirred unnecessary drama, Bayat’s reminder shows that the real progress lies in unity, empathy and collective effort to improve every city in Pakistan.