Why Nutritious Food Remains Unaffordable

Healthy eating in Pakistan remains out of reach for many households, even as the country produces food. The challenge extends beyond food production to the cost of putting a nutritious meal on the table, including protein, dairy, fruit and vegetables.

When household budgets are stretched, families may rely more heavily on affordable staple foods while cutting back on dietary variety. A full plate can provide enough calories to ease hunger without meeting the nutritional needs of adults and children.

The scale of the problem is reflected in national nutrition indicators. The World Food Programme reports that 20.7% of Pakistan’s population is undernourished, while 40% of children under five are stunted, a condition associated with chronic undernutrition.

Making healthy eating in Pakistan more affordable requires action across the food supply chain. Better storage, transport and distribution can reduce losses before food reaches consumers. Small farmers need improved access to seeds, water, technology and markets to support productivity and livelihoods.

Targeted assistance can also help low-income households access nutritious meals. Alongside tracking food price inflation, policymakers need to assess whether families can afford a diet that meets basic nutritional requirements.

Food security depends on more than the amount of food produced. Affordability, availability and nutritional quality all influence what families eat and whether children receive the nutrients they need to grow.

Reducing the cost of healthy diets therefore requires coordinated efforts across agriculture, transport, social protection and nutrition policy. Measuring progress by access to nutritious food, as well as food prices and production, can help identify where support is most urgently needed.