Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads, grappling with a growing crisis of malnutrition that jeopardizes its most vulnerable citizens—children. Nearly 40% of the country’s children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth, a silent epidemic fueled by conflict, climate shocks, and skyrocketing living costs.

The devastating floods of 2022, rampant poverty, and inadequate access to essential services have compounded the challenges, leaving millions of children malnourished and unable to reach their full potential. This crisis is not merely a humanitarian concern but a stark warning about the socio-economic future of the nation. Addressing this issue requires immediate, holistic action from policymakers and society at large. 

Amid the relentless onslaught of climate-induced disruptions—ranging from devastating floods to prolonged droughts—children’s access to sustenance is increasingly under siege. Recent figures paint a stark picture: in Pakistan alone, over 1.4 million infants were born into dire hunger in 2024.

Renowned as one of the globe’s most climate-sensitive nations, Pakistan reported the second-largest tally of hunger-stricken newborns among countries grappling with malnutrition rates exceeding 20%. This revelation stems from a critical analysis conducted by Save the Children, an eminent international humanitarian organization. Globally, 2024 bore witness to a grim milestone: a staggering 18.2 million children entered the world amid hunger’s relentless grip—translating to approximately 35 births per minute. The harrowing interplay of conflict and climate crises has propelled an additional 800,000 children into hunger last year alone, underscoring an alarming escalation.

Historical data amplifies this narrative of regression. While 21.5 million children faced hunger at birth in 2001, progress saw this number drop to 14.5 million by 2018. However, gains have since unraveled, with the figure rebounding to 15.3 million in 2019 and surging to an estimated 18.2 million by 2024. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2024 marked a 5% rise in hunger-stricken births compared to 2023, and a troubling 19% increase since 2019, when efforts to combat childhood malnutrition began to stagnate.

The roots of this escalating crisis are multifaceted. Violent conflicts, mass displacements, extreme climatic phenomena, and skyrocketing food costs have collectively eroded nutritional security worldwide. Among the newborns suffering hunger this year are those in nations teetering on the brink of famine or enduring acute food shortages, such as South Sudan, Haiti, Mali, and Sudan. In Sudan alone, famine-level malnutrition now ravages over half of the country’s 18 states.

Adding to this bleak tableau, early November brought ominous warnings of impending famine in the northern Gaza Strip. As many as 345,000 residents within the Palestinian enclave face an acute risk of catastrophic hunger in the months ahead. Although the occupied Palestinian territories are absent from annual FAO undernourishment statistics, this dire forecast was issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the preeminent global authority on hunger crises.

Hannah Stephenson, Global Head of Hunger and Nutrition at Save the Children, encapsulates the urgency: “Over 18 million infants this year—equivalent to 35 per minute—have been born into a world where hunger is an inescapable reality from their very first breath. Hunger respects no borders; it

corrodes childhoods, siphons vitality, and imperils futures.

“No child should grapple with uncertainty over their next meal. They deserve the freedom to play, to flourish intellectually within classrooms. To address this crisis, we urgently require substantial funding and unhindered humanitarian access to deliver lifesaving aid—food, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and social support systems. We possess the means to drastically curtail malnutrition, just as we’ve achieved in the past. Yet, without tackling hunger’s systemic causes, progress will remain precarious, and the plight of children will persist.”

In the face of these escalating challenges, the call for collective, transformative action grows ever more resonant. Children bear the heaviest burden in food crises, as their vulnerability to malnutrition is unmatched. Without sufficient nourishment and proper nutritional balance, they are perilously susceptible to acute malnourishment, which can cause stunted growth, hinder cognitive and physical development, increase susceptibility to life-threatening diseases, and, in the most severe cases, lead to death.

In nations where hunger affects at least 20% of the populace, the Democratic Republic of Congo stands as a grim leader in 2024, with an estimated 1.6 million undernourished newborns. Conflict continues to be a principal catalyst for hunger both within Congo and across the globe.

Save the Children has urged global leaders to address the root causes of acute food and nutrition insecurity. This includes prioritizing conflict resolution, mitigating the climate crisis, reducing global inequalities, and fostering more robust health, nutrition, and social safety systems.

Despite widespread acknowledgment of the crisis, surveys by international agencies reveal a dire reality: nearly 40% of children under five in Pakistan experience stunted growth. Yet, meaningful interventions remain sparse. Factors like population displacements caused by tribal conflicts and extreme climatic events—such as the catastrophic 2022 floods that devastated rural Sindh—have worsened the situation. In these rural regions, nearly half the children were reported to face food insecurity.

The escalating cost of living, including surging prices of essential food commodities, has only compounded the crisis in recent years. Without urgent policy interventions, the cascading effects of malnutrition will persist, hampering children’s physical and mental growth, limiting their potential, and undermining the country’s socio-economic prospects.

While some initiatives have targeted nutritional improvements for school-aged children, the approach has been fragmented and insufficient. To make a lasting impact, efforts must extend beyond nutrition to include access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation. Furthermore, comprehensive mitigation and adaptation strategies are essential to address the increasing frequency of extreme weather events driven by global climate change.

While implementing such measures might seem daunting, especially in the face of current economic constraints, even incremental progress can yield significant benefits. Policymakers must recognize that neglecting millions of children not only perpetuates inequality but also hinders broader economic development.

One actionable step toward progress would be to devolve administrative and financial autonomy to local governments. This would empower them to address specific challenges in underprivileged regions, such as southern Punjab and rural Sindh, thereby improving conditions for the most disadvantaged

communities.

It is clear that exclusive policies and inequitable resource allocation exacerbate poverty. Providing fundamental services—education, healthcare, and sanitation—at the local level, while addressing specific community needs, can reduce stunting and foster long-term progress. Ultimately, ensuring that no child is left behind is not only a moral imperative but also a necessary foundation for sustainable national growth and prosperity.

The malnutrition crisis in Pakistan is a ticking time bomb, threatening not just the lives of millions of children but the very fabric of the nation’s progress. While challenges such as economic instability and climate vulnerabilities loom large, solutions lie within reach. Empowering local governments, investing in nutrition, sanitation, and education, and addressing systemic inequalities can pave the way for a healthier and more prosperous future. Pakistan cannot afford to leave its children behind—because their growth and well-being are intrinsically tied to the country’s development and global standing. The time to act is now, for the sake of a brighter tomorrow.