Culture of Pakistan - Food and Cuisine

Recently, i was involved in a chat with a friend who showed some immense interest in the history and culture of Pakistan especially the food and cusine. I strongly support cross-cultural exchange of ideas as it removes misunderstanding and improve our image and make the world a better place. Therefore i decided to share that information about my country on this blog. This may not be of interest if you are from Pakistan. Sorry but i have international friends as well now.

As you may known, Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in the world. Islam has been since 700 A.D and this actually forms the basis of Pakistan cuisine. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork and many other carnivorous animals and reptiles and the use of alcohol as well. Hence, the food is concentrated on other areas such as chicken, mutton, beef, fish, vegetables and pulses. I had not realised this earlier but meat plays a more dominant role in Pakistani food.As the land was known and even envied for its spices, Pakistan food have traditionally a strong content of herbs and spices which along with flavorings and seasonings make Pakistani cuisine exotic and is known for its richness and flavour. If you are interested in knowing about the spices of Pakistan then please see here.

Pakistan is divided into four provinces, each with different cultures and regional specialties reflecting the country's ethnic and cultural diversity but some items are common across the country. Every country has staples and Pakistan staple food is undoubtedly the chapati (roti) - unleavened bread from kneaded flour and make on a griddle. There are many variants such as naan which are leavened with yeast and made from white floor and occasionally seasoned with sesame seeds and baked in a tandoor (open oven), parathas, puris, shermal, taftan and roti made from rice and maize flour as well.

Rice is widely grown in many parts of Pakistan and the main course is served with rice as well. However, more importantly some of famous infamous dishes are made using rice especially the Biryani. The friend on the chat was interested in knowing about it. Biryani is rice-based dish which is also popular in South Asia and the Middle East as well and is made with meat, fish or vegetables. In Karachi where i live the chicken version of the Sindhi biryani is the most popular and is one of the most consumed dish.

The main course of Pakistani cuisine popularly involves curries which are common and cooked almost everyday. The most famous curry is the iconic Karahi made from chicken or mutton combined with vegetables and named after the special utensil in which it is cooked and is enjoyed all over Pakistan. Korma which is also popular dish which traces it origin to the Mughal-era and is typically eaten with rice and is very popular as well in Pakistan.

Lentils, called daal, made from various pulses is important part of Pakistan dishes. It is considered a inexpensive food item but now their prices have increased a lot, and is not served at special occasions. However, Haleem is an exception. This is popular across many countries in South Asia and the Middle East but i can bet that Pakistan's haleem is the best. Haleem is made from lentils, wheat, meat (chicken or beef) and spices. If you want some then you need a lot of patience and efforts as it can take 7-8 hours to cook to perfection.

Barbecue food is also extremely popular in many cities of Pakistan and culturally incorporate a variety of herbs and spices. The most famous is undoubtedly the Chicken Tikka, which is baked on skewers with red-hot coal and the ieces are brushed with ghee (clarified butter) at intervals, which gives its taste, while being continuously fanned. Sajji is a dish from Western Pakistan, made of lamb stuffed with rice, and some cities like Karachi also has a chicken variant that has also become popular all over the country. A Middle Eastern influence on Pakistani cuisine is the popularity of grilled meats such as kababs. These are spicy and the meat include chicken, beef or even lamb. Types of kebabs are Seekh, Shami, Chapli (specialty of NWFP), Behari Kabab and many others not-so-common kebabs as well.

Volumes can written on chicken delicacies and their recipes. I will end by providing information on the tea variants. Pakistanis drink a great deal of tea (locally called, chai). Both black and green tea (sabz chai/qehwa) are popular. Kashmiri chai, a pink milky tea with pistachios and cardamom, is drunk primarily at weddings and during the winter. Lassi, a yogurt-based drink either sweet or salty is popular in many parts of Pakistan.

If you have a sweet tooth then you wont be disappointed. Some of the popular deserts are Saviyan (vermicelli), Sheer khurma, Kulfi, Falooda, Kheer, Rasmalai, , Zardah, Shahi Tokray, Gajar Halwah, and Rubri. Pakistan has a long list of sweets. Some of the most popular are Gulab Jamun, Barfi, Kalakand, Jalebi, Laddu and various kinds of Halvah.Pakistan has had western influences on it cuisines and different restaurants and fast-food outlets have established their franchise and people try out for new and modern food. And you can not miss the food and its splendour if you ever visit Pakistan.
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Dedicated and with Thanks to Ms. Bela Pertiwi from Indonesia. I would not have written this if there had been no chat with you :)

Shikarpur - My Hometown - Past and Present

I had earlier mentioned that my hometown is the city of Shikarpur. Hence it will be befitting to share some information about my city. This city is located in the interior of the province of Sindh, around 500km north from Karachi. When you go to your hometown it gives you a sense of belonging and makes you feel relaxed. Once it was once a dignified trade centre of great repute. Now aside from infamous spicy pickles and sindhi needlework, the town has only its past history to boast about.

This town was founded in early seventeenth century by Bahadar Khan Daudpotras whose family tree goes up to Abbasids. Mughal king Aurangzeb Alamgir conferred a vast jagir from Lakhi to Khanpur upon Bahadar Khan. The jagir area consisted of dense forest that was rich in wild animals. The forest was in possession of Mahars - powerful landlords' clan in Sindh. Reward of the area to the Daudpotras by the emperor triggered strife between the two sides that turned into a bloody battle between the Daudpotras and Mahars. Legend has it that after victory, Bahadar Khan Daudpotras was advised by a local saint to clear the forest that had been the cause of the battle and built a town on that land. Hence, the name Shikarpur meaning hunting ground. This is how Shikarpur came into being around 1617 AD.

I can assume only but Shikarpur had a reputation for its rich gardens. The Shahi Bagh, which stands neglected today, was known for its thriving vegetation and scented flowers. I have hear that at one time Shahi Bagh had a zoo with large population of lions, cheetahs, bears and wild boars. These animals were later shifted to Karachi Zoo. The garden had a wooden pavilion that was designed by Perston Phel and constructed by Sir W. Merewether in September 1871. Many other public and private gardens and open spaces of Shikarpur have vanished. These open spaces used to be meeting points where people used to gather for causal talk. It is probably the only city in the world which has a cricket ground in a park which also is a victim of neglect.

History has it that due to its strategic location on important caravan trade route of seventeenth century, Shikarpur turned into an eminent commercial centre. Due to its reputation in trade and commerce, in his notes R. Burten described Shikarpur as "the capital of merchants, money changers and bankers." With smart marketing practices, the Shikarpur merchants had built significant reputation and there was hardly any notable commercial town from Turkey to China that did not have dealings with traders in Shikarpur. There is also a long narrow market which is covered by bay wood and it is often seen as the pride of the city.

Later Shikarpur lost its glory especially after the partition the subcontinent when many Hindu merchants migrated to India. Later there was an increase in migrants from the rural areas into the city which started tribal feuds and today the city is plagued with corruption, illiteracy, unemployment and lack of development. Many other well-off people left to other cities such as Karachi. The rich history of Shikarpur is what i have heard from my family members. What i see is unplanned narrow streets with heaps of garbage, dense housing which have become unsafe for living, roads which have not being repaired for years, a broken sewage system, and lack of educational institutions, medical facilities and under-development does not allow it to be a city of the 21st century.

However, as i mentioned the hometown is a place where people know and respect you. Hence the moments that one spends in the hometown are truly priceless.

Indus Valley Civilisation and the city of Mohenjodaro

In my small efforts to share information about my country, i will go into my native areas and roots in the interior of Sindh. I was born in the city of Shikarpur in the province of Sindh which is second largest province of Pakistan. In a series of related posts i will share information about different areas of Sindh. Here i will concentrate on the ancient Indus Valley civilization and the city of Mohenjo-daro.

Sindh- The name is probably derived from the River Indus which was known as Sindhus in ancient times and this is considered the likely explanation of the origin of the name. This land is home to the Indus Valley civilization which is one of the oldest in the world. There has been inadequate research done on these areas to determine their history. However it is known that it dates back to atleast 5000 BC and encompass most of present day Pakistan and included part of India, Iran and Afghanistan as well. It is believed that further research can prove that the wheel was actually invented in this civilization.

When i speak of the Indus Valley civilization the city of Mohenjodaro (Mound of the Dead) is the most prominent. This ancient city is located near the city of Larkana and was one of the early urban settlements in the world. The archaeological ruins of the city are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The excavations were mostly done during the 1930s by Britisher Sir John Marshall whose car is also present there to show this dedication to the work. But major excavations started in 1945 and continued till the 1960s notably by British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler.

Mohenjo Daro was created as a very well planned city, its original purpose was to serve as a major trading spot and for farming. It has remarkable construction in perfect pattern and street layouts of sun-dried bricks. There seemed to be high social organisation in the city. There is also a elaborate water-proof public bath which may have been used for religious purposes. All individual houses or groups of homes had wells to obtain water and the waste water was directed to a impressive network of covered drains which lined the city. The city was divided into two parts, the so-called Citadel and the Lower City. Most of the Lower City is yet to be uncovered, but the Citadel is known to have the public bath, a large residential structure and two large assembly halls. Mohenjo-daro was successively destroyed and rebuilt at least seven times by flooding by the Indus is thought to have been the cause of destruction. It vanished without trace until they were rediscovered. It is believed that the change or course of the River Indus should be blamed.

The relics found have also been found in Egypt and Mesopotamia which suggests that they had the ability to trade with them. It was also a major agricultural city and rice has also been discovered over there. Also the people of the city had the ability to make the Ajrak. This is un-stitched piece of cloth with block print dyes. The city also boasts a stupa which is the highest point in the city and possibly used for religious purposes. Many relics have been found there as well. It is unfortunate that some of them have been stolen or smuggled from there. But some still are up for display at museums over there and in Karachi.


The most famous would be the "Dancing girl" artifact that is some 4500 years old. The 10.8 cm long bronze statue of the dancing girl was found in 1926 from a house there and the artistry tell of the past. The so-called "Priest King" is another artifact that has become a symbol of the civilization. This bearded sculpture wears a fillet around the head, an armband, and a cloak decorated with trefoil patterns that were originally filled with red pigment and is believed to be one of the earliest depictions of the Ajrak.

Today this city remains in ruins and lack of proper management result in constant destruction of this priceless monument. This can be a major tourist attraction if adequate measures are taken such has having guest-houses and eating places near the city, tourist guides and security measures. More importantly, the government should spend for further research on this city and the written language which is still not deciphered and it should preserved for generations. Nonetheless, it is a jewel in the crown of Sindh and part of it proud history.

Terrorism in Pakistan - Constraint on Development

Pakistan today is undergoing different economical, political and social problems. However the biggest threat today is from terrorism and extremism. Not a day passes when some incident of violence or terrorism is not witnessed in the country. Suicide blasts and explosions have become much common news that people fail to give much attention as well. Try this project and find some positive news in newspapers and media about Pakistan and you will not have much success.

I will not go in the background that when terrorism started and who is supporting them as we have still not created a successful strategy to fight the enemy. Pakistan was a very peaceful and united country until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the heavy influx of refugees who brought drugs and arms used in the war. The main thing is that terrorists are present and have taken refuge here in the remote and lawless tribal regions where the writ of the government does not exist and Pakistan has been the worst affected by their presence. Terrorism is the biggest constraint in the development and prosperity of Pakistan. Hence a fight against terrorism in necessary for the security of the country.

However, a military offensive is just part of the solution. Those people in the tribal areas have a very lamented view of this world. There is a very high level of unemployment and illiteracy in those areas. Hence, young people falls in the hands of those terrorists who use them for their purposes as they are paid well and made to believe that they are fighting for their religion. People who are uneducated can be made easily brain-washed to believe that the are been persecuted by people of other religions and that they should support the war.

There needs to be a peaceful solution as well. After the military operation, the government should not leave them but provide some economic development. This is probably the best long-term solution to terrorism. When people will have jobs then they will not fall for terrorists. They should be provided industries on the condition that they will not allow any outsider to stay in their areas. The provision of education and health services, improvement in infrastructure facilities and assistance to people affected by the military operation is necessary to win the hearts of the people.

A few thousand terrorists can not make an entire country hostage. This war can last for a long time but it is a war in which evil will always be defeated. Pakistan has the potential and will be a great nation of the world.

18th International Youth Leadership Conference (IYLC)

This picture is of the participants of the 18th International Youth Leadership Conference held in Prague, Czech Republic from 19-24th July, 2009. I had the opportunity to be part of this conference as well which is hosted and organised by the Civic Concepts International.

The conference is a week-long youth forum on world politics, international relations and justice for an open-minded exchange of diverse perspectives on contemporary global challenges. The IYLC blends social interaction with cultural and academic components to create a cohesive experience that promotes cross-cultural youth participation and socially responsible leadership. The theme of the conference is a "cross-cultural exchange of young ideas concerning the future of world leadership."

With participants from all six continents the IYLC was a truly international experience for me. The formalised events included the simulations of the United Nations Security Council, International Criminal Court and the European Union Parliament along with visit to the Czech Senate, foreign embassies (Switzerland)and The American Cultural Centre in Prague. The were panel discussions, regional presentations and the infamous Culture Night.

I see it as a great initiative with the greater aim of empowering youth to bring positive change in their communities. Young people around the world have the willingness to bring change but their efforts are seen as insignificant and characterised by lack of resources. It is initiatives like the IYLC which allow us to realise our potential and at the same time promote peace, tolerance and celebrate diversity to make the world a better place. It will be an memorable event of not just my first visit to Europe which is beautiful continent and to attend a truly international conference.