Food Security and Food Rights Challenges: A Policy Perspective from Pakistan

Abstract

The situation of food security in Pakistan has always been an issue. One set of opinion-makers keeps thanking God for bestowing this country on them, highlights all the resources and potentials of this nation, problems not with standing, and is hopeful that this country will emerge as a strong and prosperous nation of the world—Insha Allah (if Allah likes). These people are generally the spokespersons of governments, military, civilian bureaucracy, traders, landlords, clergy, and overall literate and well-off people. Quite contrary to this, a tiny group of intellectuals and knowledgeable individuals considers it a failed state; it faces serious threats to its existence and has already become a soar point on the globe. Unfortunately, the latter view is agreed to and shared by the international community of opinion makers. Under these two streams, on the one side, Pakistan is a nuclear power, has a strong army, a very dynamic stock of human beings, rivers (water), fertile lands, enviable biodiversity, along the coast, and so on; on the other, its economy is in shambles; the country is heavily indebted and spends about half of its budget on debt servicing; is trapped into nagging crises of inflation, terrorism, emergencies, and corruption; and presently is acutely short of electricity, fuel, infrastructure, and developmental activity. Food availability, which it had been managing to some extent, is emerging as a new crisis. Roughly, a decade ago, shortages of single food items following the respective price hikes started; at different times different items were hit.