LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY IN PAKISTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF LAWS, PROGRAMS, AND PARLIAMENTARY RECORDS

Abstract

Pakistan has a complex nexus of national policy guidelines, institutional requirements, and ever-changing legislative frameworks that dictate the determination of food and nutrition security in the country. This paper will examine the legal and regulatory framework of the country, including the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC), provincial food authorities, and harmonised health and agriculture ministries, to determine how effective they would be in ensuring safe, nutritious, and affordable food. The key policy tools include the National Food Security Policy (2018), Maternal Nutrition Strategy (2022-2027), the National Multi-sectoral Nutrition Programme (2023), and the Pakistan Dietary Guidelines for Better Nutrition (2022). More recent reforms, such as the proposal of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025, and the National Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Authority in 2024, represent a positive move but also indicate the ongoing lack of enforcement, coordination between provinces, and laboratory capacity. There are programmatic investments such as the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP), Punjab’s Aaghosh program, and Sindh’s Mother and Child Support Programme, which are increasing in terms of fiscal allocation; however, the national health allocation targeted in the 2025-26 federal budget continues to fall below internationally recommended levels. Despite all these efforts, significant gaps are seen in the countries’ governance framework. Therefore, strengthened governance systems, harmonised provincial governance, and strict surveillance in line with Codex Alimentarius requirements are crucial to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security in Pakistan.