1.25M in Pakistan in Emergency Food Crisis
News Desk
Islamabad: A new United Nations assessment has warned that 7.5 million people in Pakistan are facing acute food insecurity and malnutrition following a year marked by devastating monsoon floods, prolonged drought and escalating militant violence.
According to the latest report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), around 1.25 million people are projected to experience “emergency” levels of acute food insecurity between December and March 2026, the most severe category short of famine.
This phase is characterised by significant food consumption gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition.
The report stressed that immediate, life-saving assistance is urgently required to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe for more than one million people currently classified in the emergency phase.
It noted that the lingering impacts of the 2025 monsoon floods, combined with drought and localised insecurity, have severely undermined agriculture and pastoral livelihoods. Reduced crop production, disrupted markets and limited coping capacity have further worsened conditions for vulnerable households.
Seasonal pressures have compounded the crisis. The lean season from December to February has curtailed farm labour and income opportunities, while harsh winter conditions in some areas have further restricted access to livelihoods.
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Food access remains constrained by weak purchasing power, heavy reliance on markets, price volatility and rising household debt. Wheat flour has been identified as a particular concern during the lean months.
The IPC analysis, covering 45 vulnerable areas and approximately 15 per cent of Pakistan’s population, highlights stark regional disparities. Balochistan bears the highest proportional burden, with 25 per cent of the assessed population facing high or worse levels of food insecurity.
In Sindh, more than three million people are experiencing high levels of food insecurity. Meanwhile, in districts including Musakhel, Zhob, Kachi, Tank and Torghar, roughly 30 per cent of residents fall into at least high food-insecurity phases.
Looking ahead to April–September 2026, the report projects that 6.7 million people will face high or worse levels of food insecurity, a decline of about 855,000 compared to the current period.
However, the assessment cautioned that this apparent improvement should be interpreted carefully, as geographic coverage has been reduced from 68 districts last year to 45 this year.
It also warned that the prevalence of acute malnutrition is expected to remain broadly unchanged.
While some seasonal factors, including winter crop harvesting and Eid-related livestock sales, may temporarily ease pressures, structural drivers such as elevated staple food prices, climatic risks, insecurity and cross-border trade disruptions are likely to persist.
The report called for scaling up access to sufficient and nutritious food through a mix of cash and voucher assistance alongside targeted in-kind food distributions to bridge food consumption gaps and protect vulnerable populations.
