Why is Pakistan’s food security so precarious?

According to many agricultural economists, current food prices, coupled with their high volatility and long-term rising trend, speak loudly about Pakistan’s precarious food security situation. Continued financial insecurity and, as a result, dwindling agricultural subsidies, along with the adverse impact of climate change on crop yield, are causing an increasingly uncertain situation for food supplies in the country. The government is supposed to ensure sustainable food availability in rural and urban markets at stable and affordable prices. However, in developing countries like Pakistan, which has limited financial resources, food security is a complex phenomenon involving several trade-offs. Therefore, striking a balance between various development goals and protecting the interests of different groups is a daunting challenge. With over 220 million people, Pakistan’s population growth rate is 1.9 per cent — far higher than the world’s average of 0.9pc (World Bank data).