It is an unfortunate and deeply concerning fact that food insecurity has been on the rise in Pakistan over the last few years, reflecting the combined impact of climate shocks, economic pressures and structural weaknesses in the food system.
Speaking at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2026 in Berlin, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain drew the world’s attention to this worsening situation and underlined the urgent need to strengthen water resilience in the climate-stressed region in which Pakistan is located. He noted that Pakistan’s food security is under increasing threat from more frequent floods, prolonged droughts and extreme heatwaves, all of which have sharply affected agricultural productivity and undermined rural livelihoods.
Pakistan’s food system is heavily dependent on the Indus River system, which supports agriculture, industry and ecosystems for more than 240 million people. The minister emphasised that water security is fundamental to food security and stressed that cooperation over shared water resources is essential not only for sustainable development but also for regional stability. Describing the Indus Waters Treaty as a cornerstone of regional water cooperation and stability, he expressed serious concern over India’s April 2025 announcement to unilaterally hold the treaty “in abeyance.” Calling the Indus River system a lifeline for Pakistan, he urged the international community to support the treaty’s full implementation in letter and spirit. He also stated that Pakistan was ready to work with international partners to advance climate-smart agriculture and inclusive food systems, with the aim of transforming water from a source of risk and inter-state friction into a foundation for sustainable development, cooperation and peace for all.
According to the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) 2024–25, the food insecurity situation in the country has deteriorated significantly. Roughly one in four people experienced some form of food insecurity in 2024–25, compared to about one in six in 2018–19. Available data indicates a notable decline in food security over this period, with moderate-to-severe food insecurity rising by 8.43 percentage points, from 15.92 per cent in 2018–19 to 24.35 per cent in 2024–25, representing an increase of 53 per cent. This sharp rise highlights the growing vulnerability of households to both economic and environmental shocks.
At the national level, moderate or severe food insecurity increased from 15.92 per cent in 2018–19 to 24.35 per cent in 2024–25, while severe food insecurity rose from 2.37 per cent to 5.04 per cent during the same period. Urban areas show a similarly alarming trend, where moderate or severe food insecurity increased from 9.22 per cent to 20.58 per cent, and severe food insecurity rose from 1.24 per cent to 5.12 per cent. Rural households were also adversely affected, with moderate or severe food insecurity increasing from 19.96 per cent to 26.72 per cent and severe cases rising from 3.05 per cent to 4.99 per cent.
Provincial data reveals stark regional disparities. Balochistan records high levels of moderate or severe food insecurity, affecting 30.26 per cent of households, or nearly one in three, followed closely by Sindh at 29.42 per cent. Punjab, with 22.58 per cent food insecurity, ranks third in terms of moderate or severe food insecurity, despite enforcing the much-publicised Rs14 roti rate aimed at providing cheap bread to the population. According to the report, an additional 5.20 per cent of Punjab’s population falls into the severe food insecure category. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reports the lowest percentage of households experiencing severe food insecurity at 1.38 per cent, and also the lowest share of households facing moderate or severe food insecurity nationally at 21.54 per cent.
Among the major factors contributing to the worsening food insecurity are the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods of 2022, and persistently high inflation. Significantly, urban food insecurity has more than doubled, jumping from 9.22 per cent to 20.58 per cent, largely due to soaring food prices, stagnant wages and the erosion of purchasing power. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that moderate food insecurity is closely linked to poor diet quality and increased reliance on cheap, highly processed foods. Severe food insecurity, on the other hand, greatly increases the risks of physical illness, mental stress and long-term health damage. For children, repeated exposure to food insecurity results in stunting, wasting, impaired cognitive development and weaker educational attainment.
According to the FAO, moderate food insecurity reflects a situation in which households cannot reliably access sufficient food and are forced to compromise on the quality, variety or regularity of meals. Severe food insecurity represents a far graver condition, where households run out of food altogether and may go a day or more without eating. Viewed through this lens, the HIES findings signal not merely rising discomfort but a growing number of Pakistanis experiencing sustained nutritional stress and outright hunger.
Needless to say, rising food insecurity in Pakistan implies a mounting public health and economic risk. With nearly one in four Pakistanis — over 60 million people — facing moderate or severe food insecurity, the country confronts the prospect of higher healthcare costs, reduced labour productivity and deepening intergenerational poverty. The situation calls for targeted, well-funded interventions to stabilise food prices, protect real incomes and place greater value on nutrition, particularly for children and vulnerable groups. Without such a strategic shift, food insecurity will continue to steadily erode Pakistan’s human capital and economic foundations.
To ensure long-term food security, Pakistan must, without further delay, undertake comprehensive reforms to improve water productivity through high-efficiency irrigation systems, climate-smart farming practices, and the adoption of drought- and heat-resistant seed varieties. Equally important are improved watershed rehabilitation and groundwater recharge efforts. Without sustained and coordinated action in this regard, the country risks facing an existential food and water crisis in the coming years.