Pakistan is losing a staggering $17 billion (Rs 4.73 trillion) every year due to the ongoing malnutrition crisis, with the economic burden amounting to 4.6% of the country’s Gross National Income (GNI), a recent report by Nutrition International (NI) has revealed.

The report underscores the severity of undernutrition in Pakistan, identifying four key indicators: stunting, low birth weight, childhood anemia, and anemia in adolescent women and girls, which together paint a grim picture of the nation’s public health and its economic toll.

According to the findings, stunting is the most significant factor contributing to the crisis, affecting 34% of children under the age of five. This condition, which hinders physical and cognitive development, is responsible for a loss of 21 million IQ points and 3.3 million school years annually. Despite various interventions, the prevalence of stunting in Pakistan remains alarmingly high, and the country now ranks 18th globally, with the highest rate of stunting in South Asia.

Furthermore, the report highlights that 22% of newborns in Pakistan are born with low birth weight, and 53% of children aged 6-59 months suffer from anemia. These nutritional deficiencies have wide-reaching consequences, leading to cognitive losses, increased school dropouts, and reduced productivity in the workforce.

The economic ramifications are severe. Stunting alone costs the nation $16 billion annually, or 4.2% of its GNI, making it one of the leading contributors to Pakistan's economic struggles. The rising numbers of stunted children—over 10 million affected, with two million new cases reported each year—have far-reaching consequences for the country's future development.

While efforts to combat malnutrition continue, the report calls for urgent and comprehensive measures to address these pressing issues. It stresses the need to meet the World Health Assembly’s target of reducing stunting by 40% by 2025.

Experts warn that unless immediate steps are taken to improve nutrition and health outcomes, the country will continue to suffer significant economic losses that undermine its potential for growth and development.