Following actress Saba Qamar’s controversial remarks about Karachi, veteran actress and host Iffat Omar has now joined the debate, calling Pakistan’s largest city a “dirty place.”

A few days earlier, Saba Qamar sparked social media outrage when, during a podcast, she confessed that she doesn’t like Karachi and only visits the city for work. When asked if she would ever consider moving there permanently, she responded with “Astaghfirullah,” implying strong disapproval. Her comments triggered widespread criticism from fans and fellow actors alike.

Adding fuel to the fire, Iffat Omar weighed in on the controversy by resharing a post about Saba Qamar on X (formerly Twitter). She wrote, “If Saba doesn’t like Karachi, does she have to be forced to like it? Many people go there only for work — and honestly, Karachi is a dirty city.”

Her blunt remarks quickly went viral, drawing backlash from social media users who accused her of disrespecting the city and its residents. However, Omar didn’t hold back and responded to several critics, clarifying her stance.

The actress acknowledged that Karachi is a metropolitan city offering more work and business opportunities than any other part of Pakistan. Still, she said, if given a choice, she would prefer not to work there.

Responding to accusations of prejudice, Omar stated, “My comments are only about the city itself, not its people. Please don’t twist my words into issues of nationalism or patriotism.” She added that if someone criticized Lahore, Lahoris wouldn’t react so harshly.

Later, she further clarified her comments, saying, “I was only talking about Karachi as a city. I didn’t insult its citizens. For instance, I don’t like Frankfurt either — it’s just a personal preference.”

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