‘The Pakistan Dewelpment Revie 494 Pet (Winker 2010) pp. 903-925, The State of Food Security in Pakista Future Challenges and Coping Strategies MUNI AHMAD and UMAR FAROOQ 1, INTRODUCTION Pakistan isa low income developing country. Agriculture is the most important sector ofthe country meeting food and fibre requirements ofthe fast growing population. Although the rate of population increase has considerably slowed down from over 3 percent in 1980s fo 2.09 percent in 2009-10, itis stil considered high-' With the current rate of population growth, the population is expected to get doubled by 2050—making Pakistan 4th largest nation by 200 from current status of 6th most populous state ofthe ‘world [Pakistan (2010)} ‘The total cultivated area has increased by just 40 percent during past 60 years, while there has been more than $ times inerease in population with urban expansion of over seven fold—tesulting into mega-cites® as well as rising population pressure on cultivated and ‘Wheat production, a major food crop, has increased five-fold during the same period —yet the country is marginal importer of wheat, Tremendous efforts are needed both advances in technology and population control o narrow the food supply- is Chie of Research, Pakistan Istinte of Development Economics. Islamabad, Cinar Farooq