Pakistan's Food Insecurity Crisis Driven by Affordability, Not Supply

Pakistan's food insecurity crisis has deepened in recent years, driven not by a shortage of supplies but by the affordability of staple foods. According to government data, households have been eating less wheat, pulses, milk, and meat than six years ago, instead relying on cheap vegetable ghee to get enough calories.

The Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 and the Household Integrated Economic Survey 2024-25 reveal that annual per capita food consumption declined from 115 kilograms in 2018-19 to 109 kilograms in 2024-25. Monthly per-capita wheat consumption fell from 7.00 kilograms in 2018-19 to 6.59 kilograms last year, while rice consumption dropped from 1.06 kilograms to 0.86 kilograms.

The shift towards cheaper options is reflected in the increasing demand for vegetable ghee, which jumped 81 percent from 0.69 to 1.25 kilograms per person monthly. This trade-off, sacrificing protein-rich staples for energy-dense fat, is a symptom of food insecurity where households facing income pressure prioritize calorie intake over nutritional quality.

The decline in wheat consumption is particularly concerning given Pakistan's growing population and reliance on the grain as a national staple. The country's repatriation of Afghan nationals may have contributed to this trend, but officials say more research is needed to confirm any link.