Pakistan's federal government has allocated PKR 3 trillion to defence services in its 2026-27 budget — a rise of 17.6 per cent — while simultaneously cutting back on food and health spending, even as hunger and malnutrition indicators across the country continue to deteriorate, according to a report published by the European Times. The allocation for physical assets, covering weapons procurement, surged 39.6 per cent to PKR 925.8 billion.

Health Budget Dwarfed by Military Pensions

Total health spending in the budget stands at just PKR 53.3 billion, of which only PKR 24.3 billion covers the entire health and nutrition development portfolio. By contrast, military pensions alone — booked separately at PKR 822 billion — exceed the full health allocation by more than 15 times. Pakistan's public health expenditure, according to the government's own Economic Survey, stands at 0.8 per cent of GDP.

'The government's own Economic Survey records public health expenditure at 0.8 per cent of gross domestic product. A country spending roughly PKR 56 on its army for every rupee on its citizens' health has declared what it values,' the article in the European Times states.

Pakistan Ranks 106th on Global Hunger Index 2026

Pakistan scored 25.5 on the 2026 Global Hunger Index, placing it 106th among 122 countries — worse than every functioning state in South Asia. The comparison with neighbours is stark: Sri Lanka, which defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2022 and subsequently spent years under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, scored 10.2, recording the region's lowest hunger levels. Bangladesh scored 19.2 and Nepal scored 14.5, both in the moderate band. India scored 24.1.

'No external shock explains this deterioration in Pakistan's hunger levels, even though neighbours facing the same climate and commodity prices have avoided it,' the article observes. The report notes that after 2018, undernourishment shifted from the low to the medium band and child wasting climbed toward the high threshold — a reversal of gains achieved by earlier administrations.

Underlying Public Health Indicators

The on-ground numbers are stark. Undernourishment affects 16.1 per cent of Pakistan's population. Child stunting among under-fives stands at 33.6 per cent, child wasting at 9.8 per cent, and under-five mortality at 5.6 per cent. Taken together, these figures describe what the report characterises as a public health emergency that Islamabad has not treated as one.

Wheat Crisis and Collapsed Food Reserves

Pakistan's food insecurity has been compounded by policy missteps linked to its IMF bailout programme. The government abolished the wheat support price mechanism under IMF-tied reforms, after which procurement in Punjab — the country's primary wheat belt — collapsed to roughly 480,000 tonnes against a target of 3 million tonnes. The shortfall forced Pakistan to import approximately 3.5 million tonnes of wheat at a cost exceeding $1 billion.

Farmer representatives have reportedly warned that wheat prices could see a steep rise, pushing flour beyond the reach of ordinary Pakistanis. A comparable shortfall is said to persist into the current cycle, raising concerns about food access for low-income households.

What Comes Next

With Pakistan locked into its IMF programme and defence expenditure continuing to crowd out social spending, analysts and civil society groups are likely to increase pressure on Islamabad to rebalance its budget priorities. Whether the government responds — or whether military-directed fiscal allocations remain entrenched — will shape Pakistan's hunger and nutrition trajectory for years to come.