Pakistan is facing a serious food security challenge, with an estimated 10.6 million people expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to a new report by the international humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger.
The report, titled The 10 Largest Global Food Crises, was released ahead of World Food Day on October 16. It identifies Pakistan among the 10 countries facing the world’s largest food crises, highlighting the difficulties vulnerable families face in obtaining sufficient and nutritious food.
The findings underline how poverty, rising living costs, climate-related disasters and limited humanitarian funding are putting additional pressure on millions of people across the country.
Why Are Millions of Pakistanis Struggling to Afford Food?
One of the main factors behind Pakistan’s food insecurity is the gap between household incomes and the cost of essential goods.
High food prices, persistent poverty and limited employment opportunities have reduced the purchasing power of many families. When household earnings are insufficient to cover basic expenses, food often becomes one of the areas where families are forced to make difficult choices.
Economic instability and declining household incomes have further weakened the ability of vulnerable communities to maintain a balanced diet.
For low-income households, even relatively small increases in the prices of flour, rice, vegetables, cooking oil and other essentials can make a significant difference to the family budget.
The Action Against Hunger report warns that these pressures are leaving millions of people struggling to meet their basic food needs.
Climate Change and Natural Disasters Are Making the Situation Worse
Pakistan is vulnerable to floods, droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weather events that can damage crops, livestock, roads and agricultural infrastructure.
When floods destroy farmland or drought reduces agricultural production, rural families can lose both their food supplies and their sources of income.
These problems can also affect food prices and disrupt transportation between farms, markets and urban areas.
Communities that depend heavily on agriculture are particularly vulnerable because a poor harvest can affect their earnings for months.
Climate-related disasters may also force families to leave their homes, increasing their dependence on emergency assistance and making it harder to rebuild their livelihoods.
Children and Vulnerable Families Face Serious Risks
Food insecurity affects more than the number of meals a household can afford. It can also affect children’s health, education and long-term development.
Children who do not receive adequate nutrition are at greater risk of malnutrition and related health problems. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, older people and families with limited incomes may also face additional difficulties accessing nutritious food and healthcare.
The report warns that some households are adopting harmful coping strategies to manage financial pressure.
These include reducing food consumption, selling productive assets and withdrawing children from school to save money or help support the family.
Although these measures may provide short-term relief, they can deepen poverty and make it more difficult for families to recover in the future.
Pakistan Among the World’s Major Food Crisis Hotspots
Action Against Hunger identifies 10 countries where hunger is particularly concentrated. These include Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Sudan and Syria.
According to the report, approximately 177 million people live in these 10 countries, while acute hunger affects around 266 million people across 47 countries and territories worldwide.
The report also highlights a major funding problem. International humanitarian resources have declined while the need for food assistance continues to grow.
This creates additional challenges for organisations working to provide emergency food supplies, nutrition services and support to communities affected by poverty and disasters.
Why Humanitarian Assistance Is Important
Humanitarian assistance can help vulnerable families obtain food, access essential services and recover after a crisis.
Depending on local needs, assistance may include emergency food supplies, financial support, nutrition programmes, clean water and healthcare.
Timely assistance is particularly important for families facing severe food shortages or recovering from natural disasters.
Long-term solutions are also necessary. These may include improving agricultural productivity, expanding employment opportunities, strengthening social protection programmes and helping communities prepare for floods and droughts.
Better access to healthcare, clean drinking water and sanitation can also help reduce the wider consequences of food insecurity.
What Can Be Done to Improve Food Security in Pakistan?
Addressing the problem will require coordinated efforts from government institutions, humanitarian organisations, businesses and local communities.
Several measures could help strengthen food security:
- Support low-income households: Targeted assistance can help families afford essential food items.
- Improve agricultural resilience: Better irrigation, climate-resilient crops and disaster preparedness can help protect farmers.
- Create employment opportunities: More stable incomes can improve households’ ability to purchase nutritious food.
- Strengthen nutrition services: Early identification and treatment of malnutrition can protect vulnerable children and mothers.
- Improve humanitarian funding: Adequate resources can help relief organisations respond to urgent needs.
These measures cannot eliminate hunger overnight, but sustained investment and effective implementation could help reduce the risks faced by vulnerable communities.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s food security challenge remains a major humanitarian concern. Action Against Hunger estimates that 10.6 million people in Pakistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, placing the country among the world’s major food crisis hotspots.
Poverty, food inflation, limited employment, climate-related disasters and shrinking humanitarian resources are contributing to the difficulties faced by vulnerable families.
Protecting access to affordable, nutritious food is essential for children’s health, family stability and Pakistan’s long-term development. Addressing the crisis will require immediate support for those in need alongside sustained efforts to strengthen livelihoods, agriculture and social protection.