KARACHI: Highlighting Pakistan’s nutritional crisis on the International Day of Zero Waste on Monday, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) stressed the need for individual responsibility, stating that food discarded at social gatherings and at homes is an immeasurable loss in a country where 82 per cent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet and 40pc of under-five children suffer from stunting.
International Day of Zero Waste is observed every year on March 30 with the aim to create awareness on waste management efforts and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. This year’s theme is ‘Zero waste starts on your plate’.
In its message, the association stated that it joins the global community in its call for urgent action against food wastage.
“While the world observes this day to promote sustainable consumption, for Pakistan, it is a matter of life and death. The statistics for 2026 highlight a stark contrast between excess and extreme need: approximately 40pc of children under five in Pakistan suffer from stunting a condition of irreversible physical and cognitive delays caused by chronic malnutrition.
“Nearly 18pc of our children face wasting [acute malnutrition], while roughly 31pc are underweight, while a staggering eight out of 10 children do not consume the correct type or quantity of food, with over half being deficient in critical vitamins and minerals essential for survival,” the association stated, citing the Unicef data.
The nutritional crisis, it points out, is not uniform across the country and data indicates that the highest rates of stunting are concentrated in rural areas and disadvantaged provinces; Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“In a country where 82pc of the population cannot afford a healthy diet, food discarded at social gatherings and in homes is a direct loss to the resource-strained and the poor. Under-nutrition is a massive drain on the nation, costing Pakistan nearly three percent of its GDP annually.
“Malnutrition costs an estimated Rs4.76 trillion annually in healthcare expenses and lost economic productivity,” it said.
Describing individual mindfulness as the first line of defence against national malnutrition and food insecurity, the association called upon citizens to adopt essential practices. “The food we waste today could be the difference between survival and starvation for those unable to earn enough for their daily bread. Remember that a half-empty plate discarded is a meal denied to a hungry child.”
The association urged event organisers and caterers to establish links with charities to ensure surplus, untouched food reaches underprivileged areas and urban slums.
“Schools and institutions should integrate ‘zero waste’ education to foster a generation that respects food as a vital, shared resource.
“On this International Day of Zero Waste, let us recognise that the solution begins by effectively changing our own habits. Every morsel saved is a step toward eradicating stunting and ensuring a healthier future for the children of Pakistan,” it stressed.
Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2026
