A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Food Security Situation in Pakistan: The Way Forward.

Human existence is primarily attributed to access to quality and nutritious food. Food Security is essential for wide ranging positive economic outcomes like economic growth, poverty reduction, trade opportunities, increased global security and stability, and improved health and health care. The current study is an attempt to analyze food security situation in Pakistan. Food security, being a multi-dimensional phenomenon comprises of Food Availability, Food Accessibility, Food Utilization and Food Stability is calculated through linear scaling technique. The study has developed two thresholds each one for overall developing countries and regional countries (South Asia). The food security situation of Pakistan is compared to both thresholds. The results show that Pakistan is comparatively a food insecure country. It lags behind in terms of food availability and utilization that makes the overall food security scores lower. The study suggests that food security situation in Pakistan could be enhanced by emphasizing on improvements in food availability and utilization, followed by food accessibility and stability. The study further recommends that food security needs the inclusive improvements in its all individual dimensions. In case of Pakistan, however, the food availability and food utilization are important to be addressed initially and then to focus on the other two dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]