IMPLICATIONS OF NUTRITIONAL INSECURITY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Nutritional insecurity has evolved as a serious global problem during the last few decades. The situation got worsen during the first quarter of the 21st century after the international food cost depression. It was first scrutinized in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) signed in September 2000 and now in 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nation for 2030. Nutritional security has become an important topic for scientific community and regulatory bodies. According to a report published by FAO in 2017, the number of malnourished families increased worldwide in 2016 and the developing countries host the majority of this undernourished population. Although some reports suggested that the food hygiene condition in Pakistan has improved, but still lower than other South-East Asian countries. Estimates show malnutrition, an outcome of chronic food insecurity, annually costs Pakistan almost 3 per cent of its GDP in the form of lost productivity. It is a significantly high economic loss for a developing country like Pakistan. Therefore, efforts are needed to improve nutritional security in Pakistan by safeguarding both physical and economic access to high quality food for everyone.