The numbers are stark. An estimated 34.5 million people in Pakistan are living with diabetes, including roughly one in three adults. NCDs now account for 58 per cent of all deaths nationwide. Cardiovascular disease alone claims nearly 400,000 lives annually
In homes across Pakistan, daily meals often revolve around roti, rice and sweetened tea — affordable staples that fill stomachs but increasingly fail to nourish bodies. A growing body of evidence now suggests that the country’s food system, dominated by cereals, sugar and fats, is quietly fuelling a national health emergency.
A recent assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has highlighted deep structural imbalances in Pakistan’s food supply, warning that the availability of calories masks a serious deficit in nutritional quality. Findings cited by Dawn and presented at the National Results Dissemination Workshop on the Integrated Roadmap for Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in Pakistan reveal that while overall food energy supply is adequate, the diversity and nutrient density of diets fall well short of recommended standards.
Pakistan’s food landscape is characterised by a substantial oversupply of cereals, grains, sugar and edible oils — far exceeding levels suggested under the National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines of 2018. This imbalance reinforces cereal-heavy consumption patterns and limits dietary diversity across both urban and rural communities.
Fruits, vegetables, pulses and legumes remain insufficiently available and under-consumed. Vegetable intake is moderate at best, fruit consumption is consistently low — particularly in rural regions — and protein sources beyond dairy are limited. While milk and dairy products rank as the second most consumed food category nationally, intake of meat, poultry and eggs remains modest. Pulses, which could compensate for protein shortfalls, are not consumed in adequate quantities.
The result is a diet high in carbohydrates and fats but low in essential micronutrients.
Rural households appear especially vulnerable. The FAO analysis indicates that rural communities consume more free sugars and fats than their urban counterparts, partly reflecting reliance on inexpensive, energy-dense processed foods. Sales of packaged and processed food items have nearly doubled in recent years, signalling a rapid shift in eating habits.
This skewed dietary pattern is contributing to Pakistan’s “double burden” of malnutrition — where undernutrition and obesity coexist. On one hand, millions face micronutrient deficiencies and chronic undernourishment. On the other, rising obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are placing immense strain on the healthcare system.
The numbers are stark. An estimated 34.5 million people in Pakistan are living with diabetes, including roughly one in three adults. NCDs now account for 58 per cent of all deaths nationwide. Cardiovascular disease alone claims nearly 400,000 lives annually.
Health experts caution that without systemic reform, the crisis will deepen. The FAO report urges strategic reallocation of government subsidies to encourage production and accessibility of nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and pulses. Redirecting agricultural incentives away from surplus cereals and sugar could help diversify both supply and consumption.
Policy reform, however, must be paired with public awareness and affordability. For many households, cost remains the primary determinant of food choice. Unless healthier options are made accessible and competitively priced, dietary patterns are unlikely to shift meaningfully.
Pakistan’s food system produces enough to feed its population in caloric terms. But calories alone are no longer the measure of food security. As the country grapples with rising diabetes, heart disease and persistent undernutrition, the challenge lies not in producing more food — but in producing better nourishment.
