Findings from the newly developed Cost of Inaction Tool by Nutrition International reveal that poor nutrition has wide-ranging consequences, from increased healthcare costs to lost educational opportunities and reduced workforce productivity.

Pakistan faces a staggering annual economic loss of $17 billion (Rs4.733 trillion), equivalent to 4.6 per cent of its Gross National Income (GNI), due to the ongoing undernutrition crisis, according to a recent report by Nutrition International.

The report titled, The cost of inaction: The economic and human capital benefits of investing in nutrition, highlights the severe economic and health toll of malnutrition in Pakistan, emphasising that the crisis stems from four key indicators: stunting, low birth weight, childhood anaemia, and anaemia among adolescent girls and women. The economic impact of stunting alone is monumental, resulting in a $16 billion annual loss to the economy.

Malnutrition in Pakistan

Despite efforts to address malnutrition, Pakistan continues to struggle with alarming statistics:

• Stunted Growth: 34 per cent of children under five suffer from stunting, a condition that impairs physical and cognitive development.
• Low Birth Weight: 22 per cent of new-borns are born with low birth weight, increasing their risk of developmental delays and chronic health issues.
• Childhood Anaemia: 53 per cent of children aged six months to 59 months are anaemic, leading to cognitive impairments and lower productivity later in life.
• Anaemia in Women: 41 per cent of women of reproductive age are anaemic, exacerbating maternal and child health challenges.

Dr. Shabina Raza, Country Director of Nutrition International Pakistan, emphasised that investing in nutrition is vital to breaking the cycle of poverty and enhancing overall productivity.

Dr Raza said that “without timely intervention, the situation could worsen, making it imperative for Pakistan to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) goal of reducing stunting by 40 per cent by 2025.”

Economic Consequences of Inaction

Findings from the newly developed Cost of Inaction Tool by Nutrition International reveal that poor nutrition has wide-ranging consequences, from increased healthcare costs to lost educational opportunities and reduced workforce productivity. The total global economic cost of undernutrition is estimated at over USD $761 billion per year, with Pakistan accounting for a significant portion of this burden.

According to the report, achieving the proposed 2030 global nutrition targets could bring substantial economic and social benefits to Pakistan:

• Reducing Stunting: Meeting the 2030 WHA target on stunting could prevent 855,000 cases annually, avert 48,000 deaths, and save the economy USD $6.6 billion. According to Nutrition International, the federal ministry of health, leveraging the Cost of Inaction Tool, highlighted that achieving global nutrition targets could prevent stunting in 855,000 children annually.
• Tackling Anaemia: Achieving the anaemia target could prevent 11 million cases annually, leading to USD $287 million in economic savings.
• Promoting Breastfeeding: Increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates to 70 per cent could prevent 522,000 cases of diarrhoea, avert 6,000 deaths, and result in USD $1 billion in economic benefits.

Commitment to Nutrition

Pakistan has demonstrated its commitment to tackling malnutrition through various policies and strategies, including:

• Vision 2025, which places food and nutrition at the center of development.
• National Health Vision 2016–2025, aimed at improving health outcomes across all demographics.
• Pakistan Multi-sectoral Nutrition Strategy (PMNS) 2018–2025, targeting nutrition interventions across multiple sectors.
• Pakistan Maternal Nutrition Strategy (2022-2027) and the Pakistan Multi-sectoral National Nutrition Action Plan (2023-2030), which outline specific measures to address maternal and child nutrition.

Despite these efforts, Pakistan remains off track in achieving most of the global nutrition targets. Currently, the country is only on course to meet two out of six targets: exclusive breastfeeding and addressing overweight and obesity. However, the challenge of stunting remains critical, with Pakistan having the highest prevalence in South Asia and ranking 18th globally.

Emerging Threats

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and rising costs of living have placed immense pressure on Pakistan’s social sector, leading to the diversion of funds from long-term nutrition programs to short-term crisis responses. These challenges threaten to stall progress and exacerbate the malnutrition crisis further.

The 2024 World Bank Group Investment Framework indicates that an additional USD $13 billion is needed annually to scale up nutrition interventions globally from 2025 to 2034. The report stresses that for every dollar invested in nutrition, there is an estimated return of USD $23, making nutrition interventions highly cost-effective.

The Road Ahead

The upcoming Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, scheduled for March 27–28, 2025, in Paris, presents a crucial opportunity for Pakistan to make ambitious commitments to nutrition. The summit will bring together governments, international organisations, and civil society to mobilise resources and strategies for combating malnutrition.

As Pakistan prepares for N4G Paris, policymakers are urged to prioritise nutrition investments and leverage platforms such as the Cost of Inaction Tool to make informed, evidence-based decisions.

Addressing malnutrition is not just a health issue; it is an economic and developmental imperative for Pakistan. With over 10 million stunted children and millions more suffering from anaemia and low birth weight, the country must take urgent, coordinated action to meet the 2030 global nutrition targets. Investing in nutrition now will not only save lives but also drive economic growth, improve educational outcomes, and break the cycle of poverty for future generations.