Moot calls for resilient food systems in Pakistan

The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, on Saturday convened a seminar on "Resilient Food Systems in Pakistan", underscoring the urgent need for the country to move from reactive disaster management towards proactive climate adaptation in order to safeguard food security.

In his opening remarks, President of IRS, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, noted the irony that Pakistan, contributing less than one per cent to global emissions, remains among the nations most acutely affected by climate change. Citing cities such as Lahore ranking among the world's most polluted, he warned that "Pakistan's survival hinges on a new green revolution."

Country Director of GAIN, Farrah Naz, drew attention to South Asia's deepening nutrition crisis, observing that nearly half of women of reproductive age in the region suffer from anaemia, one in four infants are born underweight, and stunting rates continue to rise. She urged the adoption of nutrition-sensitive policies to address these systemic challenges.

Presenting data-driven insights, Dr Zaffar Bukhari highlighted Pakistan's fragmented value chains, food safety concerns, and limited dietary diversity. He stressed the importance of dashboards and evidence-based policymaking to guide the transition towards a more sustainable food system.

Representing the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Dr Haroon Malik spoke of the struggles faced by Pakistan's smallholder farmers, who account for nearly 90 per cent of the agricultural sector.

He noted that the government is providing Rs10,000 per farmer in support, expanding mechanisation and rental services, and enhancing the Kisan Package 2022. In the wake of the 2025 floods, he revealed, the government is also considering canola oil imports to reduce dependence on palm oil and bolster resilience. Moderating the session, Talha Tufail Bhatti, Assistant Research Officer at IRS, drew attention to the concept of food sovereignty in Pakistan. The seminar was attended by diplomats, researchers, journalists and students, reflecting the growing concern over Pakistan's food security amid mounting climate challenges.