LAHORE: The food insecurity situation in the country has worsened significantly, with roughly 1 in 4 persons experiencing moderate-to-severe food insecurity in 2024-25, compared to about 1 in 6 in 2018-19.
In other words, the data indicates a notable deterioration in food security, with moderate-to-severe food insecurity rising by 8.43 percentage points, from 15.92 per cent in 2018-19 to 24.35pc in 2024-25, representing a relative increase of whopping 53pc over the period. Such prevalence of hunger highlights a pressing national crisis.
Findings from the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES 2024-25) indicate a significant increase in household food insecurity compared with 2018-19. At the national level, moderate or severe food insecurity increased from 15.92pc in 2018-19 to 24.35pc in 2024-25, while severe food insecurity increased from 2.37pc to 5.04pc.
Urban areas show a similar rise, where moderate or severe food insecurity increased from 9.22pc to 20.58pc and severe insecurity increased from 1.24pc to 5.12pc. Rural households also experienced an increase, with moderate or severe food insecurity rising from 19.96pc to 26.72pc and severe cases increasing from 3.05pc to 4.99pc.
However, severe food insecurity seems less in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Analysing provinces, it emerges that Balochistan has high to moderate or severe food insecurity, with 30.26pc households, reflecting nearly 1 in 3 households affected, followed by Sindh with 29.42pc.
Most shockingly, Punjab, with 22.58pc food insecurity, has third highest moderate or severe food insecurity despite enforcing much-touted Rs14 roti rate aiming to provide cheap bread to all. As per report, additionally, 5.20pc of Punjab’s population falls in severe food insecure category.
Lowest percentage of household in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reports severe food insecurity with 1.38pc. KP has also lowest percentage of household experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in Pakistan with 21.54pc.
According to HIES 2024-25 report, while comparing food insecurity over the years, it is evident that socks like COVID-19, Flood 2022, and high inflation has impacted households. Perceptions and situations regarding food insecurity rising sharply to 40pc in 2020 and then again rising from 16.4pc to 24.3pc in 2024-25.
There has been an urban vs. rural shift in food insecurity. As per latest data, urban food insecurity has more than doubled, jumping from 9.22pc to 20.58pc, largely due to high inflation and erosion of purchasing power.
The report concludes that the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) findings from HIES (2024-25) highlight significant progress yet persistent challenges in ensuring equitable food access across Pakistan.
Nationally, around one fourth of households experience moderate or severe food insecurity, with marked disparities across provinces and income groups. Food insecurity remains highest in Balochistan and Sindh, while the lowest income quintile faces nearly five times greater risk than the highest. These results underscore the critical need for targeted interventions to address regional and economic inequalities.
Punjab seems struggling in containing hunger, especially after running a flaghship cheap wheat flour and roti programme. The findings of national survey raise serious questions about performance of the province, especially about the impact of initiatives like the Rs14 roti programme.
Commenting on the findings of the survey, Salma Butt, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Price Control, said PBS’s HIES 2024-25 reports a national increase in FIES-based food insecurity from 15.92pc of households in 2018-19 to 24.35pc in 2024-25 — reflecting cumulative loss of purchasing power after the economic shock that PBS itself notes began in 2018.
She added that Punjab’s Rs14 roti cap is a mitigation measure meant to protect consumers from flour price pass through; it cannot be conflated with the causes of food insecurity. Punjab remains focused on affordability through price enforcement, aligning roti/flour pricing with cost trends, and market monitoring so relief reaches households.
She stated that reason for upward trend are unprecedented floods in three rivers of province coupled with rising national inflation. Despite multiple contributing factors, the Punjab government is committed to maintaining the cost of roti and keeping on investing into the flagship projects like the sahulat bazars and sahulat-on-the-go to support burgeoning middle and lower middle class, she concluded.
