Pakistan faces one of the highest burdens of malnutrition in the world. Problems like stunting (children too short for their age), wasting (children too thin for their height), and micronutrient deficiencies (lack of essential vitamins and minerals) are very common.
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- According to the National Nutrition Survey 2018:
- 40.2% of children under five were stunted.
- 17.7% were wasted.
- 9.5% were overweight.
- Many women and children lack important nutrients:
- 42.6% of women of reproductive age were anemic (low iron).
- 46.9% of pregnant women were iron deficient.
- High rates of vitamin D deficiency affected 81.2% of pregnant women and 62.7% of children.
More recent data (from sources like SOFI and global reports around 2023–2025) show some changes:
- Stunting in children under five is around 33.6–37.6%.
- Wasting is about 7.1–10%.
- Anemia in women of reproductive age remains high at around 41–48%.
Poor diet is the top risk factor for disease and all forms of malnutrition in Pakistan.
Many households struggle to buy nutritious food:
- The Pakistan Cost of Diet Analysis 2016 found that 67% of households could not afford a nutritionally adequate diet, and about 5% could not even meet basic energy needs.
- According to SOFI 2023 (data for 2021), 82.8% of Pakistanis (more than 192 million people) could not afford a healthy diet.
Focus on Adolescents
Adolescents make up 23% of Pakistan’s population and often face poor nutrition. Among girls aged 15–19:
- Stunting affects about 22%.
- Overweight affects about 16%.
- More than half have anemia.
- Other deficiencies: 21% iron-deficient, 49% lack folic acid, 42% zinc deficiency, and 40% vitamin A deficiency.
The Double Burden: Undernutrition and Overnutrition
Poor diets cause not only deficiencies but also rising overweight and obesity. Overweight among children under five nearly doubled from 5% in 2011 to 9.5% in 2018. This increases risks of serious health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
GAIN’s Work in Pakistan
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has been active in Pakistan since 2007. It started with Large-Scale Food Fortification (adding nutrients to everyday foods like oil, flour, and salt).
Over time, GAIN expanded to:
- Adolescent nutrition.
- Engaging the private sector through the SUN Business Network.
GAIN partners with the government, businesses, and civil society to shape public policies and programs. This helps address malnutrition, especially for children and women, through evidence-based solutions. GAIN’s efforts support Sustainable Development Goal 2 — ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Following GAIN’s new global strategy (2023–2027), work in Pakistan now aligns with food system transformation to improve nutrition outcomes.
Today, GAIN and its partners run several key programs:
- Commercialization of Biofortification of Crops (promoting nutrient-rich crops like zinc wheat).
- Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF).
- Sub-National Food System Dashboard.
- Access to Better Dairy.
- Social Protection Project.
- Support for businesses via the SUN Business Network (SBN).
Through these efforts, GAIN aims to make nutritious food more available, affordable, and accessible for everyone in Pakistan.