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Overview
Between November 2024 and March 2025, approximately 11 million people in Pakistan’s rural population (22 percent of the analyzed population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in IPC Phase 3 or above. This includes 1.7 million people (3 percent of the population analyzed) experiencing critical levels of acute food insecurity – IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Approximately 9.3 million people (19 percent of the population analyzed) are experiencing crisis levels of acute food insecurity, classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). These populations urgently require interventions to safeguard livelihoods, mitigate food deficits, and save lives.
The IPC acute food insecurity analysis in Pakistan covered 68 f loods-affected, vulnerable rural districts across Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, encompassing approximately 50.8 million people or 20 percent of Pakistan’s total population. Currently, four districts are classified in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) while the remaining 64 districts are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). The highest incidence of acute food insecurity is observed in Musakhel district with 35 percent of its population classified in Phase 3 or above, followed by several other districts where around 30 percent are classified in Phase 3 or above.
In the projection period (April-July 2025), the number of people in Phase 3 or above is expected to slightly decrease to 10 million (20 percent of the rural population). Between April and July 2025, nine of the 68 rural districts are classified in Phase 2 and 59 are in Phase 3. The analyzed districts have been severely affected by a series of crises, including the aftermath of devastating flooding and high food prices exacerbated by poor political and economic conditions.
Despite some positive developments such as a decline in food inflation and increased household wheat stocks, significant challenges continue to impede progress in food security. These challenges include domestic conflicts, harsh winters, unfavorable agricultural output prices, anticipated climatic shocks, and limited livelihood opportunities. The lingering effects of economic instability and persistently high food inflation have worsened livelihoods and increased debt burdens, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address the multifaceted drivers of food insecurity.