Page 22 - CMA Journal (Mar-Apr 2026)

price hike in market. In this situation, government of Pakistan has badly affected all factors of food security. By facing
will face a disturbance in import bills due to higher oil, gas interconnected crises in the world, it is necessary to build
and fertilizer prices and unable to provide subsidy to low- long-term strategies, structural reforms and modern
income people. technology adoption for agriculture resilience. The
agriculture resilience is required for food security,
In this situation, Government of Pakistan should take actions
environment stability, farmers' livelihood, and long-term
to maintain supply of foods at affordable prices. It should be
resilience against global shocks.
based on multi-layered strategies and long-term resilience
for food security as a national security. Recently, government Government of Pakistan must take relief actions such as
has initiated measures to counter this situation; such as targeted subsidies for low-income people in the form of
subsidized fuel for farmers and transporters. But it is not subsidized wheat our, edible oil, and maize through a
sufficient to control the food security. Pakistan also exports strong distribution system, and direct nancial support to
food items like potatoes, onion, fruits to gulf countries where low-income people. It is also necessary that the food supply
this war is continued. Due to war, logistics are blocked or should not be disturbed and prices should be controlled to
delayed as the Strait of Hormuz is blocked by Iran, its exports prevent panic buying and market speculations. In long-term,
are stopped which ultimately affect the farmer because food Pakistan should shift its energy dependence from oil to solar
items are perishable and cannot wait long to be exported. In or wind power. Energy sufficiency will stabilize food
this situation, the government should take action to support production costs and help counter global shocks.
farmers with ready crops through dialogue with Iran and
Gulf countries to secure safe passage for Pakistani vessels. If Further, it is necessary to establish partnerships with
the crops waiting to be exported are destroyed, it can lead to multinational companies to set up DAP fertilizer technology
another crisis for food security. The farmers of Pakistan may in Pakistan. Similarly, institutional reforms are required for
face heavy nancial losses and their associated laborers may resilient food security; Pakistan can establish and implement
also face nancial problems. a comprehensive food security system and framework with
the help of FAO and IOFS. Therefore, short-term and long-
Another important need for food security is to use modern
term strategies and a policy framework are necessary to
technologies to preserve food items like dried vegetables
overcome global shocks for food security. As recommended
and fruits. Government of Pakistan should take actions to
by the FAO Chief Economist: alternate trade corridors,
improve the usage of these technologies with the support of
emergency nancial support, farmers' access to credit,
universities by training farmers and introducing equipment
diversify sources of import fertilizers, improved fertilizers
used in the drying process. It is also necessary to make
reserves, input efficient agriculture system, adoption of
available high-quality seeds and modern technologies for
green ammonia, and convert food system to strategic
higher yield to strengthen the food security. Fertilizer plants'
infrastructure.
capacity should be improved to reduce the burden of
imports and sufficient availability of fertilizers locally during About the Author: The writer is a Fellow member of ICMA, an
such global shocks. By adopting such measures, the food entrepreneur, and runs a management accountancy firm. He
items will get longer life and can get better price as well. has over 15 years of diversified experience in tax consultancy,
corporate services, and real estate investment advisory within
In this world, global shocks are a signi cant challenge for all Pakistan. He also has experience in providing freelancing
countries. Food security is continuously disturbed by climate services in financial reporting and other bookkeeping services
change, pandemics, global con icts, economic crisis, and to overseas clients.
energy crisis. The current ongoing crisis in the Middle East

ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Mar-Apr 2026 20