Drivers and Distribution of Food Insecurity in Pakistan: A Meta-Analysis Approach

Abstract

Despite the significant agricultural potential, food insecurity continues to be a pressing and complex issue in Pakistan. This paper accomplishes an extensive meta-analysis of existing empirical research into the prevalence, determinants, and regional patterns of food insecurity in Pakistan. Synthesizing the evidence across household-level studies undertaken between 2010 and 2025, the analysis underscores substantial heterogeneity in the prevalence of food insecurity across provinces, socio-economic groups, and rural–urban settings. About one-third of households experience different levels of food insecurity; similarly, higher vulnerability is noted in rural areas and certain provinces, such as Sindh and Baluchistan. Some key determinants that were regularly identified include increasing household income, rising levels of education, small household size, food expenditure patterns, access to clean water, and time and regional disparities. Food insecurity is exacerbated by households' over-reliance on staple foods and limited dietary diversity, the surge in food price inflation, and exposure to economic and environmental hazards. Education, income diversification, remittances, and better resource access derived as protective factors. The meta-analysis brings to the fore that food insecurity in Pakistan is not only a challenge but is deeply grounded in socio-economic inequalities, governance challenges, and infrastructural gaps. In this respect, the findings underline the need for policy interventions that are spatially targeted, regionally responsive, and evidence-based, with focused attention paid to poverty reduction, human capital development, nutrition-sensitive programs, and sustainable agricultural practices that should be implemented toward achieving long-term food security.