KARACHI: The annual average cost of the food basket per capita per month in Pakistan has increased to Rs1,805 ($18.60) in 2011-12, showing a consistent increase of 130 percent from Rs785 in 2005-06, suggests the Planning Commission’s annual report on the change in cost of the food basket.
Decrease in item-wise food consumption during this period has been wheat and rice by three percent, pulses by 32 percent, sugar by seven percent, meat by 17 percent and vegetables by eight percent, it said.
The share of food in total expenditure has been declining for years till 2005-06; however, it is showing an increase from 2005-06 onwards.
According to the report, the food expenditure since 2005 has raised across all income groups with an average of six percent, whereas disparity across the group is almost 20 percent, with the highest of 59 percent for lowest income to 39 percent for high income quintile.
On an average, the food expenditure in Punjab and Sindh is lower, while it is highest in Balochistan against the national average, according to the report.
Cost of food basket for the year 2011-12 indicates a cumulative increase of four percent; however, it is fluctuating from Rs1,750 to the maximum of Rs1,910 with an average of Rs1,805 over the year.
The comparison of annual average cost of food basket across provinces showed a marginal to sharp difference in between. It is high in the federal area, Sindh and Balochistan, while low in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as compared to the national average.
The report suggests that increasing food prices results in high food cost having impact on nutrition status of the household members. The malnutrition continues to discount human capacities and efficiencies, therefore, it has an impact on individuals earning and learning capacities, leading to further decline in the income and, thus, food.
Internews
