ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food supply remains significantly misaligned with national dietary guidelines, with shortages of nutritious foods and an excessive supply of cereals and sugar, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The FAO policy brief, titled “Food Supply for Healthy Diets in Pakistan,” highlights persistent gaps in the availability of vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers, legumes and pulses. Meanwhile, cereals and sugar remain available in quantities exceeding dietary requirements.
The report warns that these imbalances are contributing to malnutrition and increasing diet-related diseases across the country. More than 60 per cent of Pakistanis cannot afford a healthy diet, making access to nutritious food a major public health challenge.
Pakistan adopted its food-based dietary guidelines in 2018. However, the FAO assessment found that the country’s food supply has not adequately aligned with the recommendations. The analysis compared food availability with population requirements across 10 dietary groups between 2010 and 2023.
The shortage of vegetables widened significantly during this period. The estimated supply gap increased from 10.9–17.8 million tonnes in 2010 to 13–21.6 million tonnes in 2023. Similarly, the fruit supply gap rose from 1.9–10.3 million tonnes to 3.9–14.3 million tonnes.
Population growth and climate change are expected to place additional pressure on Pakistan’s agricultural system.
To address the problem, the FAO recommends increasing investment in nutritious food production, improving storage and distribution, reducing food waste, and introducing clearer nutrition labels. It also calls for targeted policies to make healthy foods more affordable and accessible.
The report stresses that transforming Pakistan’s food system is essential to improving public health and ensuring access to balanced diets.
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