KP, Sindh, Balochistan 'reeling from food insecurity'.

ISLAMABAD -- Multiple shocks, including high food and fuel prices, drought, livestock diseases and widespread loss of income-generating opportunities due to the impact of Covid-19 drove high levels of food insecurity across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, says a global report issued on Wednesday.

The 'Global Report on Food Crises' released by the Global Network Against Food Crises, an alliance of the United Nations, the European Union, government and non-governmental agencies working to tackle food crises together, stated that drought conditions in Balochistan and Sindh and inadequate monsoon rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had reduced crop and livestock production and contributed to rising national food prices.

In KP, the situation is worse as the province is yet to recover from the impact of a decade of conflict.

The overwhelming majority of livestock holders (87 per cent in Balochistan and 60 per cent in Sindh) reported livestock production difficulties in three months preceding the July-August assessment because of reduced access to pasture and water, difficulty in purchasing feed due to high prices or limited access to markets, difficulty in accessing veterinary services and inputs, and livestock diseases.

Rising prices, drought, livestock diseases, Covid-caused unemployment cited among key factors behind crisis

Most livestock holders experienced livestock deaths, while distress selling became commonplace in order to meet food and other needs, or due to limited availability of fodder, the report says.

The number of people facing crisis or worse is expected to decrease slightly in Sindh and increase slightly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as high food and fuel prices curtail the purchasing power of low-income households. Drought may also affect wheat crop production in rain-fed areas of Balochistan and Sindh.

In Balochistan...