Renowned Pakistani actress Saba Qamar recently expressed in a podcast that she would “never shift to Karachi – Astaghfirullah!”, stating she only goes there for work and prefers to stay in Lahore or Islamabad. The comment quickly went viral, triggering a wave of criticism from the public and industry peers alike.
Why Mishi Khan is calling her out
Veteran actress Mishi Khan has stepped into the conversation, defending Karachi and slamming Saba’s remark as insensitive. Mishi pointed out that Karachi has been the backbone of the country’s show-biz industry and of course, Saba Qamar took much of her fame and work from there — so dismissing the city was both ungrateful and hurtful. Mishi, whose own hometown is Karachi, made it clear she was disappointed to see such remarks from a star.
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Public backlash and industry reaction
Social media users were quick to weigh in:
- “Karachi is the backbone of the country and people still do this.”
- “Saba gets work from Karachi and then insults the city.”
- “Actors have social responsibility and she should have not said this.”
Netizens argued that while Karachi may present challenges like pollution or traffic (which Saba partly cited), the way the remark was framed seemed disrespectful to many.
A reminder of the power and responsibility of fame
Saba Qamar’s star status gives her enormous influence — and with that comes responsibility. Dismissing a city that helped build your career may cost you public goodwill. Mishi Khan’s strong reaction highlights how even casual remarks can have big repercussions. For public figures especially, awareness and sensitivity matter. The drama is now less about the city and more about how one uses their platform. Are we expecting too much from stars? Maybe. But in today’s age, words carry weight – and stars must choose them wisely.
