Pakistan stands at 99 in Global Hunger Index

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been ranked at 99 out of 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI-2022), according to the GHI report of Pakistan launched on Tuesday in Islamabad.

According to the report, the country’s score has plummeted from 38.1 in 2006 to 26.1 in 2022. Despite the decline, the figures remain a cause for concern.

The Global Hunger Index report said that the impact of armed conflicts, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated universal hunger issues. As a result, around 828 million people have been pushed into hunger.

The report indicated that 46 countries may not even achieve a minimal level of hunger reduction by 2030, let alone entirely eradicate it. Regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including Pakistan, have the highest prevalence of hunger and malnutrition.

The GHI is an annual report jointly published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Its aim is to raise awareness pertaining to the challenges faced in the fight against hunger.

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According to the Dawn.com, Country Director Welthungerhilfe Ayesha Jamshaid said that the organisation dedicatedly worked to assist food-insecure communities and to establish resilience through collaborations with civil society, government, and the private sector.

Meanwhile, Director of Local Government and Community Development Department (LGCDD) Punjab Shafat Ali highlighted the significance of citizen participation, action, oversight, and considering local contexts in transforming food systems.

The media reports said that the stakeholders at all levels of governance were urged to integrate local voices and capacities in addressing hunger. The involvement of communities, civil society, small producers, farmers, and indigenous groups with their knowledge and experiences was vital in shaping access to nutritious food governance.

Deputy head of Development Cooperation in the German Mission (Pakistan) Helen Paust admired the government’s efforts against hunger and addressed sector-specific and political recommendations.