Pakistan's Food Crisis Deepens as Military Spending Takes Priority Over Public Welfare

Pakistan is facing mounting food-security challenges, with millions of people struggling against high food prices, malnutrition and declining purchasing power. At the same time, the government has significantly increased military spending, raising fresh questions about Islamabad's budget priorities and its ability to address the country's growing humanitarian needs. A report published by The Shillong Times on November 5 highlights the growing contrast between Pakistan's food-security problems and its continued investment in military hardware.

Defence Budget Rises While Hunger Remains a Serious Concern

Pakistan's 2026–27 federal budget allocated approximately PKR 3 trillion to defence services, marking a 17.6 percent increase. More notably, spending on physical assets, including weapons and military equipment, increased by nearly 39.6 per cent to PKR 925.8 billion. In comparison, the federal health allocation stands at PKR 53.3 billion, while military pensions have been separately budgeted at PKR 822 billion.  These figures raise questions about how Islamabad is balancing national security expenditure against essential public services, particularly healthcare, nutrition and food assistance.

Millions Face Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

Pakistan's hunger indicators remain concerning. According to the 2026 Global Hunger Index figures cited in the report, the country scored 25.5 and ranked 106th among 122 countries. The reported indicators include: 16.1% of the population affected by undernourishment, 33.6% of children under five suffering from stunting, 9.8% of children under five affected by wasting. These figures highlight the scale of Pakistan's nutrition and public-health challenges, particularly among vulnerable families and children.

Wheat Shortages Add to Pakistan's Economic Pressure

Pakistan's food problems are also linked to agricultural and supply-chain difficulties. Changes to the wheat support-price mechanism and lower-than-targeted government procurement have contributed to concerns about national wheat reserves. The country reportedly imported approximately 3.5 million tonnes of wheat at a cost exceeding $1 billion following a domestic supply shortfall. The situation remains concerning. FEWS NET's September 2026 assessment projected continued Crisis-level food insecurity in parts of Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through January 2027. High food prices, poor harvest expectations and limited household purchasing power were identified as major factors.

Military Modernisation Versus Citizens' Basic Needs

The widening gap between defence expenditure and social-sector funding has become an important issue in Pakistan's economic debate. Military preparedness is a stated government priority amid regional security tensions and domestic militant violence. However, rising defence allocations also create difficult questions about the resources available for education, healthcare, agricultural support and poverty reduction. For ordinary Pakistanis struggling to afford flour and other essential food items, the central concern is whether government spending is delivering meaningful improvements in everyday living conditions.

Pakistan's Economic Priorities Under Scrutiny

Pakistan's food-security challenge is not simply a question of insufficient agricultural production. Weak purchasing power, rising prices, water shortages, climate pressures and policy decisions have all contributed to the problem. The country's growing military expenditure has intensified scrutiny of its fiscal priorities. Without stronger investment in agriculture, nutrition, healthcare and social protection, vulnerable households could continue facing serious difficulties.

Ultimately, Pakistan's economic stability will depend not only on military preparedness but also on its ability to ensure affordable food, improve living standards and protect the welfare of its population.

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