According to UNICEF and other international agencies, Pakistan continues to face significant challenges in nutrition and food security despite some progress over the last few years. The problems include rising food prices, climatic shocks, and reduced livelihood opportunities for the people in general in a stagnant economy.
It is estimated that around 7.9 million people (22% of the population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. It is concerning that Pakistan is not poised to meet the food security and nutrition targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 by 2030. Over 40% of children under five years are stunted; 17.7% are wasted, while more than half are anaemic and suffering from deficiencies in essential nutrients and vitamins.
The National Nutrition Survey 2018 revealed persistently high rates of undernutrition. According to a 2023 report published by Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), one-third of children in Pakistan aged six to 23 months suffer from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Child malnutrition is a multi-sectoral problem rooted in under-nutrition due to deficiencies in energy, protein, and micronutrients. The situation is quite dire in Pakistan, with stunting and wasting found in large parts of the country, especially in the rural areas. Stunting does not only stem from a child not having enough to eat. Inadequate nutrition among mothers during pregnancy is one of the main reasons of malnutrition among children leading to stunting. Wasting is extremely high in Pakistan, with several areas in the country considered to be in an emergency situation.
According to the 2018 survey, 40.2 percent of children under the age of five in Pakistan have stunted growth — that is, nearly half of the children in Pakistan under the age of five. Statistics also reveal that 29.8 percent are underweight and 30 percent of these children suffer from wasting, which is defined by low weight-to-height ratio. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, around 10 million children in Pakistan suffer from stunted growth. Stunting — one of the most common diseases among children in Pakistan — is a condition in which a child cannot grow to the proper height according to their age. The UN bodies have set emergency wasting thresholds at 15 percent. Pakistan’s wasting is currently 17.7 percent. It is said that malnutrition can prove fatal if it is not treated in time.
Within the country, millions of vulnerable individuals, especially children and women, suffer from the highly negative consequences of malnutrition. Malnutrition weakens the immune system, making individuals more vulnerable to diseases and hampers cognitive development, perpetuating an unending cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. The right nutrition at the right time is essential for child health, survival and growth. Well-nourished children are much more equipped to grow up as productive members of society. Poor nutrition, on the other hand, negatively impacts on health, education and wellbeing of the affected population groups through generations.
Despite improvements in other socio-economic indicators, acute malnutrition is rampant all across Pakistan’s rural hinterland. To deal with the challenge of malnutrition, the diets of Pakistani children need to be substantially improved, with more diversity and sufficient calories. A special focus on the quality of diet is essential to prevent stunting, wasting and other forms of malnutrition. It is also critical to create awareness among mothers about the importance of breast feeding their babies and attending to the nutritional needs of their growing children.
Closer collaboration between the government and local NGOs can go a long way to help educate mothers and families about the nutritional needs of growing children. Also, enhancing healthcare in rural areas is crucial to reducing acute malnutrition among children in poor households. To this end, nutritional rehabilitation centers need to be established nationwide in healthcare facilities to provide parents with regular health education and nutritional awareness. Public awareness campaigns should be regularly conducted to educate people about the importance of good health practices.
A multi-sector approach, including public-private partnerships, is essential for improving infrastructure in slum areas, particularly in health and education. Preventing and addressing nutritional needs req¬uire effective and efficient nutrition programming and coordination, as integral components of a coherent and consistent multi-sectoral response, especially during and after a crisis.
While UN-funded programs to care and treat severe acute malnutrition are being successful in several areas of Sindh and Punjab, they cover only a fraction of the total numbers of malnourished children. The need is to expand the outreach of these programmes to the most affected districts. To this end, more funds should be provided to improve the existing health infrastructure in the rural areas. In addition to community-based interpersonal communication strategies, mass media should be also involved in spreading the message about the need for better nutrition in rural areas.