World Food Day 2018 and a curious case of food hunger in Pakistan

Dunya News

Pakistan produces enough food still hunger is at large; majority faces starvation and worst hunger.

(Web Desk) – Human body needs proper food to sustain. Without food, no one can survive. Our body cannot persist without food for more than three weeks. Today marks the World Food Day and the theme of this year is “Our actions are our future. A zero hunger world by 2030 is possible.” Sadly, around 820 million people around the world are undernourished.

United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) attributes the reason for this hunger to growing number of conflicts, economic meltdown and extreme climate variations. Though these are people who are unable to arrange food, there are others who are victim of unbalanced diet. 1.3 billion people nearly are overweight, a prime cause of various diseases.


Equal distribution of food is necessitated like never before. There is sufficient supply of eatables being produced nation-wide but distribution is distorted and victim of political pressure and corporate sector’s recklessness. In this World Food Day 2018, it is time not only government but also people pledge to fill the hunger of every Pakistani.


The case of Pakistan; produces enough food still hunger is at large

Agriculture is a main source of income for Pakistan, and its share to GDP is 25 per cent, but millions of people go to bed without eating proper food. The country stands in the ranks of African countries where drought-like situation prevails throughout the year. Sugar mafia is way too strong to tackle by the federal and provincial governments; the state has surrendered to them.

Imran Khan before becoming PM stated multiple times that millions of children in Pakistan are facing stunted growth issues, now that people voted him graciously; it is time to pay them back.

Imran Khan in his maiden victory speech even portrayed the mental growth of a child affected by undernourishment. Photo: Screenshot


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Pakistan is the third highest global producer and exporter of chickpea; fourth highest of rice, and mango; fifth highest of milk, sugarcane, and date palm; sixth highest of apricot and citrus; and seventh highest of wheat and onion, but how fatless people of Pakistan are. In spite of all these blessings, Pakistan stands at 106 out of 119 developing countries in Global Hunger Index. Either eatables are not available or if they are, they are quite expensive that most of the people cannot buy.

Agriculture reforms are need of hour. The production of wheat and rice is in profusion but where does it go? Who store them? Of course these are mafias or pressure groups. The mafia of landlords need to be reined in now.

Equal distribution of food is necessitated like never before.There is sufficient supply of eatables being produced nation-wide but distribution is distorted and victim of political pressure and corporate sector’s recklessness. In this World Food Day 2018, it is time not only government but also people pledge to fill the hunger of every Pakistani.

By Junaid Ali Malik