When facing a report that places millions in the grip of serious deprivation, the official response is not concern, but outright rejection. Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah has dismissed international concerns over Pakistan's standing on the Global Hunger Index as mere propaganda, asserting that the country's social fabric prevents widespread starvation.

Speaking to Geo News in Islamabad, Sanaullah addressed Pakistan's ranking of 106th out of 122 countries on the index, where it sits with a score of 25.5. Rejecting the findings, he pointed to what he described as a strong societal tendency among Pakistanis to help those in need, questioning whether citizens could be seen sleeping on footpaths in the manner witnessed in other nations.

“Therefore, in Pakistan, as far as my observation goes, by the grace of Allah, no one sleeps hungry, and no one sleeps out on footpaths and streets,” Sanaullah maintained to Geo News, adding that relying on such reports was entirely inappropriate.

Background

According to Geo News, the Global Hunger Index places Pakistan in the category of a "serious" level of hunger, with the country ranking 106th out of 122 countries and holding the second-worst level of hunger in South Asia, ahead of only Afghanistan in the region. The data cited indicates that 16.1% of Pakistan's population is undernourished, while 33.6% of children under the age of five are stunted and 9.8% are wasted. The index also notes that hunger levels in Pakistan are higher than they were in 2018, though the data underpinning the index largely does not cover 2026 or the fallout from the Middle East conflict. In comparison, Geo News reported that India was ranked 100th on the index.

Why it matters

For ordinary readers in Pakistan, the stark contrast between official assurances and international statistical assessments highlights a continuing debate over how poverty and food security are measured and addressed in the country. While government representatives point to cultural traditions of charity and visible street conditions to counter negative metrics, the index figures point to underlying challenges involving childhood stunting, wasting, and undernourishment that affect significant portions of the population.