Pakistan ranked 99th over the globe in the Global Hunger Index. With severe hunger issues, Pakistan showcased a dark side to the world.
To increase awareness and understanding of the fight against hunger, Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide produce the Global Hunger Index annually.
Welthungerhilfe, Concern Worldwide, and Alliance 2015 partners ACTED, CESVI, and Helvetas joined hands to launch the GHI in Pakistan with an event addressing Food and Nutrition Security experts.
As numerous distinct hunger crises worsen due to the fighting in Ukraine, the world risks a significant setback in its efforts to eradicate hunger.
Armed conflicts, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic reinforce one another, according to the most recent Global Hunger Index, and as a result, up to 828 million people may experience hunger by 2021.
Pakistan Ranked 99th In Global Hunger Index.
The new study evaluates the state of nutrition in 129 nations. As things stand, 46 countries will not even reduce hunger to a negligible level by 2030, entirely eradicating it.
South of the Sahara and South Asia continue to have the highest hunger rates in Africa. The tallest child stunting and wasting rates are seen in South Asia, which also has the highest incidence of need in the whole globe.
Pakistan is ranked 99th out of 121 nations having enough data to compute the 2022 Global Hunger Index rankings. Pakistan has a significant degree of hunger, with a score of 26.1.
The goal of the Global Hunger Index was discussed by Welthungerhilfe’s country director, Aisha Jamshed, along with the organization’s efforts to support food-insecure communities and foster resilience by working with the public, commercial, and nonprofit sectors.
Dr. Omer Bangash, food and nutrition security expert for Welthungerhilfe, provided facts and numbers on the battle against hunger.
But it raises the main question, why is Pakistan ranked 99th on the Global Hunger Index?
A Big Question, WHY?
The fourth edition of the report, prepared in collaboration between German non-profit Welthungerhilfe and its Irish counterpart Concern Worldwide, is a peer-reviewed publication launched in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday.
The paper draws attention to a worldwide food crisis and claims that a “toxic cocktail of conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic” left millions of people vulnerable to food shortages.
Alarmingly, according to the research, GHI forecasts indicate that by 2030, “low hunger” will not have been achieved in at least 46 nations worldwide, including Pakistan.
Pakistan received a score of 26.1, which was lower than its score of 29.6 in the report’s 2014 iteration.
Pakistan’s GHI score was 32.1 in the 2007 report and 36.8 in the 2000 report, respectively.
Abedullah, an agriculture economist said two issues are accessibility and affordability.
“In Pakistan, we are primarily facing a problem of affordability. While food is available, incomes have been squeezed. That has reduced purchasing power, which is the bigger worry now,” he told Al Jazeera.
Abedullah, who goes by one name, said the government has to slow inflation and stem the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee.
“People are simply unable to afford things anymore. The government must work on boosting productivity and improving affordability,” he added.
Back in 2021, economists ranked Pakistan as the fourth most expensive country in the world.
Pakistan’s Food Needs
According to Adil Mansoor, a food security researcher based in Karachi in southern Pakistan. The country’s domestic wheat output has yet to meet needed standards. Pakistan has been compelled to import at least 10% of its wheat for at least four years.
“It is doubtful that we will become domestically sufficient in wheat production in the next five years at least,” he told Al Jazeera.
“We have very few research facilities and skills that could help develop better seeds, which could increase productivity. We are also exporting it, particularly to Afghanistan, since after the dollar was allowed to operate on [the] market rate, that meant better profit margin,” he added.
Last year, Pakistani passports ranked fourth worst for international travel for the third consecutive year.
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