By Razia Zainab
Food insecurity has become a growing issue, especially in metropolitan cities of Pakistan such as Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. It is affecting major segments of society, particularly lower- and middle-class communities, which make up a significant portion of Pakistan’s population. Among the most affected are students living in hostels while pursuing higher education.
These students often struggle to access healthy and adequate food, which negatively impacts their health, finances, and academic performance. Many are unable to focus on their studies due to poor-quality hostel meals and recurring health problems. A large number of these students reside in Islamabad, the capital city, because of its educational opportunities and proximity to many towns and smaller cities. However, students who come seeking a better future are often confronted with poor mess food and unhealthy living conditions.
Abdul Wasay, a 19-year-old Mass Communication freshman from Faisalabad studying at NUST Islamabad, currently resides in a private hostel, Karachi Boys Hostel, in Sector H-13. Since joining the hostel, he has faced numerous health problems due to unhealthy and contaminated mess food.
“Hostel meals are often a mixture of dirt particles and inedible food floating in excessive oil and grease. The kitchen staff usually work without head covers, which increases the risk of food contamination. I’m tired of the poor-quality mess food and losing focus on my studies because of recurring health issues. My teachers ask me about my declining grades, but I cannot explain how these health problems are affecting my education,” he said.
He further added that he had frequently found hair strands in his food. Due to these ongoing issues, he eventually started skipping meals.
Another student, Nabi Ahmed, a 19-year-old Civil Engineering student from Multan living in Shah Boys Hostel in H-13, also shared his experience. He explained how repeated exposure to undercooked meat in the hostel mess caused him to develop allergies.
“These allergies have completely changed my eating habits. I had to remove meat from my diet because the quality served in the hostel is unacceptable. I never faced these issues before coming to Islamabad,” he said.
He further explained that he had become so sensitive to meat that even a small amount in his food could cause nausea and severe reactions.
“This should never happen. University students are already under academic pressure and dealing with many challenges. Good food quality is a basic standard that still has not been met,” he added.
Contaminated water is another major problem faced by hostel students. It contributes to illnesses such as hepatitis and also affects students’ skin and hair, leading to skin diseases and hair loss.
Hasnain Habib Bhatti, a 20-year-old student residing in one of NUST’s internal hostels, described his experience.
“My friends who were already living in the hostel warned me about the water, but I ignored them. Soon, I started suffering from stomach aches. At first, I thought it was due to environmental changes, but the pain kept returning. Later, I realized the contaminated water was causing these problems. On top of that, I started experiencing hair fall. Now, unfortunately, these issues have become part of my daily routine,” he said with a sigh.
Dr. Arif Hussain, who previously worked at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Islamabad and is currently serving as a Medical Officer at the Social Security Dispensary in Khewra, explained that food poisoning cases among students are common.
“I handled such cases two to three times during my duty calls. Most patients were accompanied by roommates or hostel wardens. They usually presented symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In most cases, the root cause was hostel mess food or meals from local eateries where proper hygiene standards were not followed,” he said.
Dr. Hussain recalled the case of a 19-year-old girl who became severely dehydrated after eating at a local dhaba near her university.
“She had only eaten two or three bites, but even that was enough to upset her stomach. She continued vomiting and had to stay overnight at the hospital,” he explained.
He also described another incident in which several students from the same hostel were brought to the emergency room suffering from food poisoning after eating rice served at lunch.
“We had to create a proper triage system to manage patients according to the severity of their condition,” he said.
Dr. Hussain also pointed out that many students delay seeking medical treatment because they try home remedies to save money, which often worsens their condition.
He stressed that hostel administrations must strictly follow hygiene SOPs in kitchens and avoid using substandard food items simply to reduce costs.
“These practices put students’ lives at risk just to save a small amount of money,” he warned.
The discussion highlighted how serious these health issues can become, often leading to hospitalization. At the same time, many students hesitate to spend money on medical treatment because they are already struggling financially.
Another overlooked issue is the financial burden caused by poor hostel food. Since students are dissatisfied with hostel meals, many rely on food deliveries or dining out, forcing them to spend significantly more money. Most students live on limited allowances, and a large portion of their budget goes toward finding healthier food options. This increases financial pressure not only on students but also on their families, who are already burdened with tuition fees and household expenses.
Zaib Batool, a 21-year-old third-year Sociology student at Quaid-e-Azam University, shared her concerns.
“The unhealthy hostel food often forces me to spend extra money outside. When there is no decent meal available, I order food, buy instant noodles, biscuits, fruits, or sometimes skip meals entirely,” she said.
She further explained: “These alternatives affect both my budget and my health. Instant noodles, snacks, and fast food are easily accessible, but consuming them regularly creates more health problems. Ordering food is also extremely expensive, especially while living in the capital city.”
According to a survey conducted among students, the most common suggestions for improvement included better food quality, balanced weekly menus with healthier options, regular student feedback, basic cooking facilities, fresh fruit and milk in meals, and reducing excessive oil and spices.
An example of comparatively better facilities can be found in NUST’s internal hostels. During a conversation with a hostel in-charge, he explained:
“We provide a variety of meals according to a weekly menu and ensure cleanliness. Food is properly covered to maintain freshness and hygiene. Kitchen staff are required to wear gloves and head covers.”
He also stated that utensils are thoroughly washed and dried, adding that most students were satisfied with the mess quality.
The youth are a valuable asset to the nation and deserve proper facilities and healthy living conditions. These issues require immediate attention so that students can study in a safe and supportive environment. After all, prevention is always better than cure.
The author is entering her fifth semester of Mass Communication at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). She highlights issues faced by students, and expresses her concerns through stories inspired by real-life student experiences.
She can be reached via Gmail at: [raaziazainab355@gmail.com](mailto:raaziazainab355@gmail.com)
