Addressing Malnutrition in Pakistan: A Priority

Food and nutrition are fundamental to human health, productivity, and national prosperity. In Pakistan, malnutrition, including both undernutrition and overnutrition, poses critical challenges not only to public health but also to economic development. The country is currently grappling with a “double burden of malnutrition,” wherein chronic undernutrition exists alongside rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the Global Nutrition Report (2023), 40.2% of children under five suffer from stunting, a sign of chronic undernutrition, while 17.7% are wasted due to acute food deprivation, and 9.5% are overweight, reflecting poor dietary quality and rising lifestyle-related risks (UNICEF, 2023). These figures underscore a complex nutritional landscape, where access, affordability, and quality of food vary widely across regions and socioeconomic groups.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults has surged in recent years, contributing to the increasing burden of NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. According to the WHO (2023), nearly 28% of adults in Pakistan are classified as overweight or obese, placing additional pressure on the healthcare system and reducing workforce productivity. Contributing factors include excessive consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, sedentary lifestyles, and lack of awareness about balanced diets.

Addressing these challenges requires a multisectoral approach that integrates agriculture, health, education, and social protection systems. Nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies must promote the production and consumption of diverse, nutrient-rich crops such as pulses, vegetables, and fruits. Public health campaigns should raise awareness about healthy dietary practices and promote physical activity, particularly in urban areas. School meal programs, micronutrient supplementation, and food fortification initiatives also play a critical role in improving nutritional outcomes. Ultimately, ensuring food security and optimal nutrition is essential for building a healthy and resilient population capable of driving Pakistan’s sustainable development goals forward.

Understanding the Roots, Impacts, and Solutions to Pakistan’s Nutritional Crisis

Pakistan is currently facing a critical public health and economic challenge due to the dual burden of malnutrition, both undernutrition and overnutrition, affecting a wide cross-section of its population. Undernutrition affects approximately 36.9% of the population (World Bank, 2023), with stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies most prevalent among children and women. This condition leads to impaired cognitive development, increased susceptibility to disease, and elevated mortality rates among children under five. On the other hand, overnutrition is on the rise, with 28% of adults classified as obese and a growing prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. Alarmingly, Pakistan now has the third-highest number of people with diabetes in the world, reaching 33 million cases (IDF, 2023). Cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 29% of all deaths nationally (Global Burden of Disease, 2023). Economically, the cost of treating obesity and related NCDs is staggering, consuming an estimated 6.5% of Pakistan’s GDP annually (State Bank of Pakistan, 2023).

Food insecurity further compounds the malnutrition crisis. About 37.5% of Pakistanis, particularly in rural areas and urban slums, experience chronic food insecurity (WFP, 2023). Escalating food prices and stagnant wages push families toward cheap, calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods, worsening both under- and overnutrition. Economic inequality plays a key role; nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, and proteins are up to 300% more expensive than processed alternatives (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Government subsidies that favor staple grains like wheat and sugar distort dietary patterns, promoting carbohydrate-heavy diets that lack essential nutrients.

Additionally, a lack of nutritional education contributes to unhealthy food choices. Only 12% of schools currently include nutrition in their health education curricula (Ministry of Education, 2023), while urbanization and fast-food marketing have led to a surge in unhealthy eating habits. For instance, fast food sales increased by 22% in 2023 (Euromonitor), with urban youth consuming significantly more sugary drinks than their rural counterparts. Weak policy frameworks fail to regulate junk food advertising, particularly targeting children, while agricultural policies continue to prioritize cash crops over nutrient-rich alternatives.

Environmental shocks such as the 2022 floods, which wiped out 70% of standing crops in Sindh and Balochistan, and ongoing water scarcity further threaten food availability and affordability (FAO, 2023). These climate-induced disruptions aggravate malnutrition by limiting access to fresh produce and increasing dependency on food aid or processed substitutes.

To combat this multifaceted crisis, Pakistan must implement integrated, evidence-based solutions. Making healthy food more affordable through subsidies on fruits, vegetables, and pulses, and imposing taxes on sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods can shift consumer behavior. Programs like Ehsaas Nashonuma, which target child stunting through cash transfers and nutritional support, should be expanded nationally. Nutrition education should be mainstreamed into school curricula and reinforced through public awareness campaigns via mass media and digital platforms. Training healthcare workers to provide basic dietary counseling at primary healthcare centers is another critical step.

On the agricultural front, promoting crop diversification, supporting smallholders with incentives for growing climate-resilient crops, and encouraging urban agriculture can improve both food security and dietary diversity. Healthcare systems must integrate malnutrition screening and treatment into routine services and establish community-based programs to prevent and manage NCDs. At the policy level, Pakistan should adopt and enforce regulations on junk food marketing, especially to children, and work closely with international partners like WHO and FAO to implement and monitor the National Action Plan on Nutrition (2024–2030). Through coordinated action across health, agriculture, education, and economic sectors, Pakistan can address the root causes of malnutrition and foster a healthier, more productive population.

Conclusion

Addressing malnutrition in Pakistan is not only a public health necessity but a national economic priority. The country’s dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition poses significant risks to human development, productivity, and long-term economic growth. With alarming rates of stunting, wasting, and rising non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions, the cost of inaction is far too high. These nutrition-related challenges are deeply rooted in systemic issues, food insecurity, economic inequality, weak policy frameworks, inadequate education, and environmental shocks, all of which reinforce unhealthy dietary patterns and poor health outcomes.

However, this crisis is not insurmountable. Integrated, multi-sectoral interventions that align agriculture, health, education, and economic policy can reshape Pakistan’s nutrition landscape. Making healthy food more affordable, educating the public, supporting climate-resilient agriculture, and regulating junk food marketing are essential steps. Moreover, expanding programs like Ehsaas Nashonuma and strengthening healthcare integration for malnutrition and NCD prevention will be critical. By implementing the National Action Plan on Nutrition with urgency and accountability, Pakistan can reverse current trends and build a healthier, more resilient population. Ultimately, nutrition must be viewed not only as a health issue but as the foundation of sustainable development, national prosperity, and human dignity.

References: UNICEF; WHO; World Bank; Pakistan Health Research Council; FAO; Global Nutrition Report; IDF; Global Burden of Disease; State Bank of Pakistan

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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