akistan has ranked among the top ten countries facing acute food crisis, according to the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, underscoring mounting concerns over the consequences of climate shocks, economic pressures and uneven agricultural performance.

The report places Pakistan alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—countries identified as requiring urgent intervention to address worsening food insecurity.

Nearly 11 million people in Pakistan are facing acute food insecurity as per the report. Of these, about 9.3 million fell in the crisis category while approximately 1.7 million were classified as being in an emergency phase, just short of famine.

Climate change has emerged as a major driver. Extreme weather events, particularly heavy monsoon rains and flooding, have repeatedly disrupted agricultural cycles, damaged infrastructure and eroded livelihoods. The report notes that the 2025 floods alone affected more than 6 million people, compounding vulnerabilities in already fragile communities.

A regional breakdown identifies Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the worst-affected provinces. Meanwhile, gaps in data continue to hinder a comprehensive assessment of the full scale of the crisis, raising concerns about underestimation in some regions.

Beyond climate impacts, structural challenges persist.

Limited access to healthcare, inadequate water and sanitation systems, disease outbreaks and chronic malnutrition are all contributing to the deteriorating food security situation. Rising inflation, projected to hover around six percent in 2026 is expected to further strain household purchasing power, making basic food items less affordable for millions.

Recent data from the Directorate of Crop Reporting Services, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—generating accurate and timely statistics on crop acreage, production and yield—under the Agriculture Department, offers a more nuanced picture. Data for the last five years of yield for staple crops, a copy of which is available with The News on Sunday, reflect an uneven agricultural performance marked by volatility rather than sustained growth.

Maize, a key staple in the province, has shown relative stability over the past five years. After modest fluctuations, production has maintained a gradual upward trajectory, suggesting resilience despite climatic pressures. Wheat, Pakistan’s primary food grain, recorded strong gains earlier in the period, including a significant increase in 2020-2021. Growth continued, albeit at a slower pace, over the following years before reversing in 2024-2025, when production declined by 5.53 percent. This downturn raises concerns given wheat’s central role in national food security.

Rice production has been markedly volatile. After minor gains, output fell sharply in 2022-2023, only to rebound strongly over the next two years. While the recovery is encouraging, the fluctuations highlight the crop’s vulnerability to changing environmental and market conditions.

Sugarcane presents a more troubling trend. Production has largely declined over the period, interrupted only by a brief recovery in 2023-2024. The overall trajectory points to sustained pressure on the crop, likely linked to water scarcity and shifting cultivation patterns.

Taken together, these trends suggest that while certain crops demonstrate resilience, the agricultural system remains fragile. Yearly fluctuations, combined with external shocks such as floods and inflation, are undermining the stability needed to ensure food security.

Pakistan’s persistent food insecurity, despite its strong agricultural base, reflects deep structural challenges rather than a lack of potential, says Dr Saqib Hussain Bangash, who has a PhD in agriculture from China.

“Pakistan faces food shortages due to structural inefficiencies rather than lacking potential,” he says, adding that while agriculture remains a key contributor to the GDP and employment, productivity continues to lag. He attributes this to outdated farming techniques, inefficient irrigation, post-harvest losses and weak supply chain management.

Rapid population growth, he says, is further widening the gap between food demand and supply.

Dr Bangash also points to climate change as a major aggravating factor. “Floods, droughts and erratic rainfall have significantly reduced agricultural output,” he says. At the same time, economic instability, rising inflation and increasing input costs including fertilisers, fuel and seeds are constraining farmers’ ability to sustain production.

Explaining why Pakistan has yet to achieve food self-sufficiency, he identifies a mix of environmental, economic and governance-related issues. “Frequent extreme weather events, water mismanagement and inconsistent agricultural policies continue to undermine long-term planning,” he says. He also highlights land fragmentation, limited investment in research and innovation and significant post-harvest losses as critical barriers.

Socioeconomic challenges including poverty, lack of access to credit and low levels of farmer education also restrict productivity gains.

To address the crisis, Dr Bangash stresses the need for a coordinated, multi-pronged strategy. “Pakistan must modernise its agriculture through mechanisation, precision farming and climate resilient crop varieties,” he suggests.

He also calls for improved water management through efficient irrigation systems, alongside stronger research and extension services to equip farmers with modern knowledge and tools.

“Reducing post-harvest losses through better storage, cold chains and transport infrastructure is equally important,” he adds. He emphasises the need for consistent, evidence-based policy reforms and greater financial support for farmers, including subsidies, affordable credit and crop insurance. Encouraging crop diversification and addressing broader issues such as population growth and poverty are also essential components of food security.

“Food security in Pakistan is not just an agricultural issue, it is a national security and human development concern,” he says.

Dr Bangash calls for coordinated efforts across sectors, including health, education, water management and economic policy, with particular focus on vulnerable and flood-affected regions. Improving data collection, monitoring systems and institutional reforms, he says, are essential for evidence-based decision-making.

“Without sustained commitment, short term measures alone will not resolve the crisis. Sustainable food security will depend on resilience, innovation and inclusive development.”

The writer is a multimedia producer. He tweets @daudpasaney.