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Pakistan's Hunger Crisis Deepens: Urban Areas & Middle Class Hit Hard

Pakistan is confronting a severe hunger crisis, with nearly one in four people facing moderate-to-severe food insecurity, a sharp 53% increase since 2018-19. Contrary to expectations, urban centers have experienced a more dramatic spike in food insecurity than rural areas. Alarmingly, the crisis now impacts the middle class, with nearly 9% of the top income-earning households affected. The situation is exacerbated by high inflation, past floods, and a fragile food system, raising concerns about long-term stability.

Key Points: Pakistan Food Insecurity Soars, Urban Crisis Worsens

  • Food insecurity rose 53% in six years
  • Urban crisis worse than rural areas
  • Middle-class households now affected
  • Balochistan is the worst-hit province
  • High inflation and floods are key drivers
3 min read

'Pakistan facing food crisis, urban areas or middle classes not exempt'

Pakistan's food insecurity surges to 24.35%, with sharper spikes in urban areas. Middle-class households now face hunger amid high inflation.

"If this is what economic stability has to offer to the people, things might not stay stable for very long. - The News Pakistan article"

New Delhi, Jan 8

Pakistan's Household Integrated Economic Survey, released on January 2 this year, indicates a significant increase in household food insecurity, with roughly one in four persons experiencing moderate-to-severe food insecurity in 2024-25, compared to about one in six in 2018-19, according to an article in the Pakistani media.

Moderate-to-severe food insecurity rose by 8.43 per cent during this period, going from 15.92 per cent in 2018-19 to 24.35 per cent in 2024-25, according to an article in The News Pakistan.

This represents a relative increase of a mammoth 53.0 per cent in just six years.

Severe food insecurity, specifically, increased from 2.37 per cent to 5.04 per cent. As such, the country appears to have a full-blown hunger crisis on its hands. Interestingly, while hunger and poverty are problems usually associated with rural areas, the spike in food insecurity has actually been sharper in Pakistan's urban centres.

Moderate-to-severe food insecurity has more than doubled in the urban areas to 20.58 per cent, as compared to a 39.0 per cent increase in the rural areas. Severe food insecurity is now more prevalent in urban areas (5.12 per cent) than in rural areas (4.99 per cent). High inflation and eroding purchasing power are thought to be the main reasons behind this difference, the article stated.

Among provinces, Balochistan has the highest rate of high-to-moderate or severe food insecurity, followed by Sindh. Surprisingly, Punjab has the third-highest rate, despite its much-touted Rs14 roti rate, ahead of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The figures show that the bottom 20.0 per cent of households in terms of income, unsurprisingly, experience the highest rate of moderate or severe food insecurity at 45.97 per cent. However, what is truly shocking is that even among the top 20.0 per cent of households, a category that includes much of the middle class, the rate is at 8.95 per cent. One could reasonably argue that Pakistan is a very poor country and that even the top 20 per cent in terms of income are not really rich. But the fact that hunger is rising even among this group indicates just how hard it has become to make a living in this country, the article lamented.

The report cites factors like Covid-19, the 2022 floods and high inflation as contributing to the problem. While inflation has moderated significantly, the cost of living is still far too high for the majority and severe monsoon flooding appears to be becoming the norm, the article states.

"No one knows when the next pandemic or similar global crisis could strike, but it is clear that our fragile food supply systems will likely not be able to cope. Add in the fact that, under IMF tutelage, agricultural taxes could rise, and the government's support for the sector may well decline, and the situation becomes even more worrying. If this is what economic stability has to offer to the people, things might not stay stable for very long," the article concluded.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The data is shocking. More than doubled in urban areas? It shows how economic mismanagement and reliance on IMF bailouts hits the common person the hardest. We in India must learn from this and strengthen our own PDS and food security nets. No citizen should go hungry.
A
Aman W
A grim reminder that political stability and sound economic policy are directly linked to a family's ability to put food on the table. The article mentions floods becoming the norm – climate change is a shared threat for the entire subcontinent. We need regional cooperation on food security, beyond politics.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from an expat perspective in Delhi. The scale of the crisis is heartbreaking. When the top 20% income group has nearly 9% food insecurity, it's a system-wide failure. Hope humanitarian aid can reach those in need without getting tangled in geopolitics. Basic human dignity is at stake.
V
Vikram M
The focus on urban hunger is an important point. Often we think it's only a village problem. Inflation eroding purchasing power is something every Indian middle-class family can relate to these days. It's a tough fight everywhere. 😔 Governments need to prioritize essentials over everything else.
K
Karthik V
While the situation is undoubtedly serious, I feel the article from the Indian media could have included more analysis on the root causes like governance and policy choices, rather than just presenting the survey data. A more balanced perspective would help readers understand the full picture.

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