What happened?
The 2026 Global Hunger Index released this week ranks Pakistan as the most hunger‑afflicted nation in South Asia, overtaking its regional neighbours for the first time since the index began tracking the region.
Why does it matter?
The surge in Pakistan’s hunger score reflects a confluence of economic turbulence, sharply rising food prices and eroding social‑protection schemes. Households already struggling with inflation are now facing reduced caloric intake, a trend that threatens child growth rates, increases the risk of diet‑related diseases and places additional strain on an already stretched public‑health system.
What happens next?
Experts say the government must act quickly to stabilise staple‑food markets, expand cash‑transfer programmes and strengthen nutrition interventions in schools and primary health centres. Without coordinated policy measures, the number of people living in severe food insecurity could climb further, potentially affecting millions across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.