[en] Full text: A comprehensive study has been carried out for the assessment of the contents of natural radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, ²³²Th, and ²¹⁰Pb) and related radiation doses in Pakistani food items (fruits, seasonal vegetables, beef, mutton, poultry meat and eggs) and drinks samples (milk, tap water and soft drinks) using high resolution gamma spectrometry. For detection analysis and data acquisition a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector was used. All the food items and drink samples showed detectable ⁴⁰K activity, however, most of the other natural radionuclides in solid food were found to have contents below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). The range of ⁴⁰K activity was found to be 9.2 to 110.5 Bq kg^-1 for solid food and drink samples. The cumulative average value of ²²⁶Ra activity was found to be 1.2 Bq kg^-1 in all the leafy/seasonal vegetables and fruit samples including turnip, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, brinjal, spinach, cauliflower, pumpkin, carrot, radish, cabbage, peas, cucumber, ladyfinger, beat, pepper, apple, banana, melon, mango etc. and 0.35 Bq kg^-1 in beef, mutton, poultry meat and egg samples. In all water based drink samples the measured values of the mean activity of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, ²³²Th, and ²¹⁰Pb were 0.22, 0.015, 0.026, 0.018 and 0.19 Bq kg^-1 respectively. The annual effective dose due to the ingestion of these radionuclides was estimated to be 0.5 mSvy^-1 from solid food and 0.3 mSvy^-1 from drinks. These values are quite below than the upper limit of 1 mSv as specified by ICRP recommendations. The contribution from these radionuclides does not pose any significant radiological health problem to the general public. This study also provides baseline values and general background of the natural gamma emitting radionuclides in Pakistani foodstuffs. (author)