Delusion or privilege? Sharmila Faruqui says Karachi 'bilkul Paris jaisa hai'

Sharmila Faruqui has set off a wave of reactions online after comparing life in Karachi to Paris during a recent TV appearance — and the internet is not holding back.

The moment came during a light segment on a private show where guests were asked to complete a sentence: “Living in Karachi is like living in ___.” After a brief pause, Faruqui responded with a straight-faced “Paris,” drawing applause and smiles from those on set.

But once the clip hit social media, the tone shifted fast.

Users quickly turned the comparison into meme material, with one viral comment joking, “They really looked at Larkana and said, yep… this is basically Paris, just without the Eiffel Tower, croissant and everything else.”

Others took a more personal angle, suggesting the statement reflected her own lifestyle rather than the city at large. “She is talking about her home,” one user wrote, hinting that the comparison might come from a more privileged perspective of Karachi.

At the same time, some voices surprisingly backed the statement — albeit with a different lens. One comment read, “I think she is right. If someone comes from villages and has never seen such buildings, for them Karachi must feel like Paris,” reframing the comparison in terms of exposure and relativity.

The debate quickly turned into a broader conversation about class, perception, and how different people experience the same city in completely different ways.

In the same show, Faruqui also shared a lighter personal detail, saying she could leave politics but could never give up watching dramas — a comment that resonated more positively with viewers.

Currently serving as a Member of the National Assembly on a Pakistan Peoples Party ticket, Faruqui has previously held key roles in Sindh’s government, including adviser to the Chief Minister and head of the Information Department during Qaim Ali Shah’s tenure.

But it’s her Karachi–Paris comparison that continues to dominate timelines — with reactions ranging from sarcasm to serious debate, and everything in between.