Pakistan's Food Security Crisis: Over 60% Can't Afford Healthy Diet

Pakistan faces a severe food security crisis, according to a recent World Bank report. The country has the largest group of people in the region who cannot afford a nutritious diet, with over 60% of its population unable to afford healthy eating. This is despite being nearly self-sufficient in food production, unlike many of its neighbors which import roughly half their calories.

The report notes that Pakistan's agricultural sector has experienced significant growth, with cereal yields increasing by 96% since the 1990s. However, this success has not translated into affordable diets for the population. Inflation has increased by 40% year on year in 2023, forcing households to rely heavily on wheat, which now makes up over 40% of total caloric intake.

The affordability threshold for a healthy diet in Pakistan is set at $4.78 per person per day in 2017 purchasing power parity terms, lower than Egypt's $6.42 threshold. However, even those who currently meet this bar are precarious and vulnerable to price shocks, with one in three households sitting just one dollar above the affordability line.