Analysis of Food and Nutrition Security in Pakistan: A Contribution to Zero Hunger Policies

Abstract

Food and nutrition security is the foremost element of zero hunger policies. Food and nutrition deficiencies cause poor health, low productivity, and high medical costs. This study based on data from the Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey 2015-16 of Pakistan is designed to ascertain and estimate the patterns of calorie intake in Pakistan and compare the same across various provinces. It also tracks the pattern and levels of consumption of various macro and micronutrients. The study indicates 38% of the households at the national level experience calorie deficiency (less than recommended calories). The corresponding figures for the urban and rural areas are 40.5% and 36.7%, respectively. Households experiencing deficiency in caloric intake in Balochistan and Sindh provinces are comparatively higher. Nutritional deficiencies in terms of essential macro and micronutrients indicate that 40% of households were deficient in protein, with 58% in urban and 44% in rural areas. Micronutrient deficiency analysis shows that 22% of the survey households in Punjab, 30% in Sindh, 11% in KP, and 37% in Balochistan are suffering from iron deficiency. Besides, 57% of households in Balochistan, 56% in Sindh, 35% in Punjab, and 26% in KP experience deficiency of zinc. The vulnerability analysis of the survey data found 12% of the households at the national level to be extremely vulnerable and food insecure in terms of their calorie intakes, balanced diet, and adequacy of micronutrients. The results call for coherent public policy interventions and programs to tackle food and nutrition insecurity and achieving zero hunger.