Pakistan faces South Asia’s worst hunger crisis,...

Summary

• Pakistan has recorded the highest hunger score in South Asia, as economic instability, rising food prices and climate-related disasters continue to threaten food security, according to the 2026 Global Hunger Index released on Wednesday.
• Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced deteriorating conditions since 2018, raising concerns about access to affordable and nutritious food.
• It stressed the importance of strengthening food security programmes and improving the ability of countries to identify, prevent and respond to future hunger crises.

AI Generated Summary

Pakistan has recorded the highest hunger score in South Asia, as economic instability, rising food prices and climate-related disasters continue to threaten food security, according to the 2026 Global Hunger Index released on Wednesday.

The report, published jointly by international organisations, highlights a slowdown in efforts to combat hunger across South Asia. Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced deteriorating conditions since 2018, raising concerns about access to affordable and nutritious food.

In Pakistan, persistent economic challenges and sharp increases in food prices have weakened household purchasing power. Many families are struggling to afford essential food items, while rising living costs continue to limit their access to adequate nutrition. The country’s undernourishment level has also increased from low to medium since 2018, while child wasting has moved closer to the high-severity threshold.