Beyond Food: Pakistan’s Intensifying Fight Against Stunting and Childhood Malnutrition
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Sep, 2026) A child's future may begin to take shape even before birth. The health and nutrition of a mother during pregnancy, the first feed after delivery, breastfeeding during infancy, and the quality of food offered in the first two years of life can leave a lasting imprint on a child's growth, learning ability, and future productivity.
For millions of Pakistani children, however, this crucial beginning is overshadowed by harsh realities: poverty, food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and limited awareness about nutrition. This phenomenon isn't just a shortage of food; it reflects a deeper issue involving maternal health, household income, education, sanitation, healthcare, and social inequalities.
Pakistan's ongoing battle with childhood malnutrition demands more than food distribution. It necessitates sustained investment in human nutrition education, stronger health systems, and coordinated efforts from the government, universities, healthcare institutions, and communities.
Dr Tauseef Sultan, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), emphasizes that stunting, defined as low height-for-age due to chronic or recurrent under-nutrition, is a critical indicator of child well-being and social inequality. He states:
"Stunting is not merely about a child's height. It reflects prolonged nutritional deprivation and the social and environmental conditions in which that child grows."
Growth faltering can commence during pregnancy and persist through the first two years of life, a period critical for physical growth and brain development. Persistent stunting can impair physical development, cognitive and neurodevelopmental outcomes, educational achievement, and productivity in adulthood, while also increasing the risk of chronic diseases later in life.
"Investing in maternal and child nutrition is ultimately an investment in human capital," Dr Tauseef notes. "The consequences of malnutrition can continue throughout a person's life and affect the development of society as a whole." Recognized among the world's top two per cent of scientists, he highlights that despite global progress in reducing malnutrition, stunting remains a significant challenge. In 2022, an estimated 148.1 million children under five worldwide were stunted, representing 22.3 per cent of this age group. Asia bore approximately 52 per cent of the global burden, while Africa accounted for roughly 43 per cent.
The problem has further complicated itself as many low- and middle-income countries now face a "double burden" of malnutrition, with under-nutrition existing alongside overweight and obesity.