In the latest Global Hunger Index (GHI-2022), Pakistan has been ranked a dismal 99th out of 121 countries, shedding light on a deeply concerning issue plaguing the nation. The report, launched in Islamabad, explicitly terms the level of hunger in the country as serious. This revelation should serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan and the entire South Asian region to take immediate action to address this pressing humanitarian crisis.
The GHI report’s findings are a stark reminder of the prevailing challenges that millions of Pakistanis face on a daily basis. Hunger is a multi-dimensional problem, and its effects go far beyond simply a lack of food. It impacts people’s health, education and overall well-being, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.
What is particularly distressing is that South Asia is identified as the region with the highest hunger levels worldwide. This region not only has the highest child stunting rate but also the highest child wasting rate of any world region. The report singles out India, with a staggering child wasting rate of 19.3 percent, as a significant contributing factor to the region’s average due to its vast population.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is among the countries where child stunting rates between 35 and 38 percent, with Afghanistan’s rate being the highest in the region.
According to the report, the patterns of wasting among young children of different ages shed light on child wasting in South Asia. The child wasting rate in South Asia is highest at birth and then consistently declines to the age of three, at which point it becomes fairly steady.
However, wasting increases between birth and approximately age one, at which point it begins to decline. In Africa South of the Sahara, by contrast, the increase in child wasting up to age one may reflect challenges relating to the transition from exclusive breastfeeding to complementary foods and the increased risk of disease due to the consumption of contaminated foods, drinking water from unimproved sources, or poor environmental sanitation.
These alarming statistics underscore the need for urgent and concerted efforts from governments, non-governmental organizations and the international community to address the root causes of hunger in the region. High levels of poverty, inadequate access to education and healthcare, political instability and environmental challenges are some of the factors that exacerbate the hunger crisis in Pakistan and its neighboring countries.
To tackle this crisis, governments in the region must prioritize food security and nutrition as critical policy objectives. This includes investing in agriculture and rural development to enhance food production, distribution and accessibility.
Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach involving governments, civil society, and international cooperation. Together, we must act swiftly to implement sustainable solutions that prioritize food security, nutrition, education, and poverty alleviation. Only then can we make significant strides towards ensuring a hunger-free future for Pakistan and South Asia as a whole.
