The government intends to launch a campaign to address households and businesses’ $4 billion annual food wastage of Pakistan, according to sources who spoke with the media.
The government intends to launch a campaign to address households and businesses’ $4 billion annual food wastage of Pakistan, according to sources who spoke with the media.
The government intends to launch a campaign to address households and businesses’ $4 billion annual food wastage of Pakistan, according to sources who spoke with the media.
In a written response to the National Assembly earlier today, Pakistan’s Ministry for National Food Security and Research stated that no study is currently being conducted to determine the amount of food that is lost and wasted annually.
The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) informed in 2021 that annual wastage/losses of food are 19.6 million tons which is almost 26 percent of the total food production in the country. This totals close to $4 billion, according to the ministry’s written response to the National Assembly.
According to the food ministry, food waste is the term used to describe food that spoils as a result of decisions and actions made by consumers, food service providers, and retailers.
Food waste takes many forms: During sorting operations, fresh produce that doesn’t meet standards for shape, size, and colour is frequently taken out of the supply chain.
Foods that are approaching, at, or past their “best before” dates are frequently thrown away by consumers and retailers. Large amounts of wholesome, edible food are frequently left over or unused in homes and restaurants, according to the ministry.
The ministry added that since most food waste is an individual-level action, public awareness campaigns are more effective in lowering food waste at homes and commercial dining establishments. The government plans to launch one of these campaigns.
Over the past few decades, Pakistan’s food production has advanced significantly. Due to the high rate of population growth, rapid urbanisation, low purchasing power, high price fluctuations, erratic food production, and ineffective food distribution systems, food security remains a significant challenge. 18% of Pakistan’s population is undernourished, according to the Food Security Assessment Survey (FSA), which was conducted in 2016.