Kasur, Pakistan

Capital City

With just 314,617 residents, Kasur is hardly the cosmopolitan hub some may imagine. In fact, this fortified city on the border with India faces a persistent headache from bureaucracy and red tape. The region's hot, semi-arid climate also takes a toll, with scorching summers reaching 45°C and bitterly cold winters plunging below freezing. And safety is an ongoing concern, with protests erupting in 2018 over the rape and murder of a young girl. All told, Kasur seems better suited for those seeking a quieter, more provincial existence than an international adventure.