Imagine a small family belonging to the middle-income group. The ubiquitous chicken ka salan is a staple fare made with chicken, yoghurt, tomatoes, onions, and rice. Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics indicates how steeply its cost has spiked in recent years.

Before the pandemic, the price remained roughly constant before rising by nearly 25pc. Since 2021, however, the price of the typical dinner has shot up over 70pc. Having two balanced meals of carbs and protein a day can easily cost a household about Rs50,000 a month when it cost about Rs20,000 in 2019.

Pakistan has among the highest prevalences of child and women malnutrition. With nutritious food becoming more expensive, this crisis will only worsen.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, January 22nd, 2024