Food Insecurity in Pakistan.

Global communities observed the highly significant World Food Day on this auspicious Monday, October 16, 2023. World Food Day was historically recognised during the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) conference held on October 16, 1979. This event took place thirty-four years after the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. In the remarkable display of global solidarity, over 150 nations were united to recognise World Food Day as a momentous occasion for humanity's collective commitment to combat hunger and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.

In the pursuit of global food security, the role played by the FAO cannot be overlooked. In its ongoing efforts to bolster the availability and affordability of food, the FAO is diligently working towards progress. A noble objective lies at the core of the FAO's mission: 'Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.'

Considering the ever-pressing issue of food security on a global scale, it is heartening that international communities have recognized its significance by incorporating it into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG-2 stands as a beacon of hope to the ambitious target of 'Zero Hunger' by the end of 2030. The primary target of this goal is to mitigate the prevalence of undernourishment, moderate or severe food insecurity, stunting, malnutrition, and anaemia.

The importance of availability and access in ensuring food security has been emphasised by FAO. Availability refers to the physical quantity of food that is present. Based on the research findings, it was observed that food production surpassed population growth by approximately 1 per cent. The global population has experienced a growth rate of 1.9 per cent, while food production has consistently grown at 2.8 per cent over the past five decades. Despite this, it is critical to consider purchasing power when discussing food access as it depends on the available resources and prices. In the context of food security, it becomes evident that availability is not a matter of concern but rather a concern about the crucial aspect of access.

Pakistan aims to achieve 'Zero Hunger' by 2023 due to the global relevance of food security. However, COVID-19 hampered Pakistan's food security efforts. Before the outbreak, 16.44 per cent of households were food insecure. Among...