“Have Policies in Pakistan Been Effective for Improving Food Security?” Wanted: Disaggregated Policy Assessment!

This paper aims to show why the answer to the food security paradox in Pakistan cannot currently receive an answer, due to the type of policy assessment done until now. In order to know whether a given policy has been effective or not, it needs to be assessed. The problem in Pakistan is that food security policies have not received the right type of assessment. It appears to have been a neglected area in Pakistan, but occasionally a few attempts have been made. Importantly, the assessment of food security policies has been carried out at the aggregate (national) level. The aggregate assessment represents the average situation and ignores the impact at local, disaggregated levels. It is recommended that food security policies must be assessed at the disaggregated level, in particular at the household level.