Informal food systems as cultural capital: a policy framework for urban food security and livelihoods in Pakistan

Informal economies often serve as the unseen drivers of urban food security in the Global South, significantly contributing to poverty alleviation (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). This dynamic is particularly evident in Pakistan, where the shadow economy is estimated at approximately $450 billion. Yet, the street food sector, a vibrant component of this landscape, remains largely overlooked in formal food systems planning. Moving beyond the conventional view of street food as merely a regulatory challenge, this article reframes these practices as ‘socio-cultural capital' through the lens of Bourdieu's habitus. Building on an in-depth thematic analysis of 20 stakeholder interviews, we demonstrate how vendors mobilize traditional culinary knowledge not only for commerce but as an adaptive strategy for social survival and food provision. We propose a six-dimensional policy framework that integrates elements of food quality, memory, and agri-food heritage to bridge the gap between informal practices and national development goals. Ultimately, the paper argues that transitioning from punitive regulation to inclusive food governance requires recognizing this sector as a powerful tool for sustainable livelihoods, gender equality (SDG 5), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).