Food imports raise supply shock risk

According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan's food import bill climbed 11.66%, reaching $9.150 billion in FY26, while food exports slid by 29.49%, totalling $5.02 billion. That left a food trade deficit of $4.17 billion, prompting questions about whether the country can keep buying food it does not produce competitively. The government is again planning wheat imports to steady markets, even as a large crop was claimed for this year.

Global pressures are also building, with UN figures showing roughly 645 million people, 7.8% of the global population, went hungry in 2025. The FAO index recorded an August 2026 average of 133.3 points, up 1.9% from July, and the agency linked the rise to weather problems, Middle East tensions and logistics disruptions. For Pakistan, the World Food Programme estimates 20.7% of the population is undernourished, and climate shocks such as floods, droughts and heat waves add further risk.

Business and agriculture stakeholders want more private investment in seeds and supply chains, along with a turn toward oilseeds and pulses, crops where the country leans heavily on imports. Najam Mazari urged specialised research and food processing institutions to lift Pakistan's competitiveness. The Economic Survey shows agriculture grew 2.89% in FY2026, with wheat output up 4.3% to 29.6 million tons, yet large food imports persist.