Staff Correspondent
KARACHI: Rising inflation and declining purchasing power have left a large majority of Pakistan’s population unable to afford a healthy and balanced diet, according to the United Nations’ State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 report.
The report estimates that 63% of Pakistan’s population, or around 161 million people, were unable to afford a healthy diet last year.
Despite relatively lower food prices compared with some other parts of South Asia, Pakistan has one of the lowest proportions of people in the region who can afford a healthy diet.
Experts say the problem is not simply the availability of food but the declining purchasing power of households.
According to the figures cited in the report, average monthly household income increased from Rs41,545 in 2018-19 to Rs82,179 in 2024-25. However, the per-capita poverty threshold also rose sharply from Rs3,758 to Rs8,484 during the same period.
After adjusting for inflation, real household income declined by around 13%, while the poverty rate increased from 21.9% to 28.9%.
Abid Qayyum Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, said the UN figures were credible because they were based on Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ Household Income and Expenditure Survey rather than external estimates.
Suleri warned that the widening gap between rich and poor could have serious long-term consequences. He said that when households have less than 5% of their income left for education and healthcare after paying for food, rent, electricity, gas and other essential expenses, the impact can extend to future generations.
Food security expert Shams Salam Khan, however, said the situation on the ground could be even more serious than the official figures suggest. He noted that food prices have risen significantly while incomes for low-income households have not increased at the same pace.
According to experts, rising prices of flour, rice, milk and other basic food items are forcing many families to reduce their food consumption.
They stressed that food security should not be measured only by wheat production or flour prices, but also by whether ordinary citizens can afford a balanced diet containing pulses, milk, eggs, vegetables, fruit and meat.
The report also highlights concerns over child malnutrition. Experts say nearly one in three Pakistani children under the age of five fails to achieve the expected growth for their age, while malnutrition and anemia remain major public health concerns.
Experts have warned that if economic pressures continue, food insecurity could affect not only the present generation but also the health, education and productivity of future generations.