A report from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has estimated that the daily cost of an energy-only diet ranges from Rs18 per capita in rural Balochistan to Rs32 in urban Sindh.
The ‘Fill the Nutrient Gap’ (FNG) analysis found that meeting basic energy needs is affordable for most, with only 5 percent of the population falling short across Pakistan.
Pakistan is among the 13 countries and is part of the case study which was carried out by the WFP.
According to the analysis, the cost of a nutritious diet, which meets all nutrient needs, is significantly higher – ranging from Rs67 in rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to Rs78 in urban Sindh.
Alarmingly, 66 percent of the population cannot afford this diet, with non-affordability reaching as high as 84 percent in rural Balochistan.
The FNG analysis highlights that adolescent girls, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers face higher costs due to increased nutrient requirements – such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 – representing over half of a household’s nutritious diet costs in Sindh.
The analysis further observed that the children aged 12 – 23 months, while consuming less food due to optimal breastfeeding, remain nutritionally vulnerable. Their diets require nutrient-dense meals provided frequently to avoid lifelong health consequences, the report warns.
Source: Dawn
