Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday launched the ‘Koi Bhooka Nahi Soye Ga (No one will sleep hungry)’ program under the administration of Ehsaas Programme and Bait-ul-Maal. Under the scheme, free meals will be distributed among the poor through food trucks in all major cities of Pakistan.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI distributing meal among the deserving earlier today.
As per details, freshly cooked food will be distributed twice a day, among 1000-1500 people on daily bases in portable food trucks. Initially, the food trucks will operate in Islamabad and Rawalpindi only, with daily wage workers the main beneficiary of the programme.
Speaking at the launch, PM Khan expressed his desire to spread the programme in every city of the country. The premier added that the launch of this food drive is a step forward towards a welfare state.
“I always feel happy to see that deserving people are given shelter and food with honour and dignity at various Panahgahs established across Pakistan,” said PM Imran.
Another great Step by PM Imran Khan to help the poor. After Free Shelter Homes and Soup kitchens for the homeless and hungry, this new scheme by PM will look for homeless people on the streets and will provide them with Free food https://t.co/2OIxEahzLS
mashAllah this is a small attempt to imitate the era of the Khulfa e Rashideen, Prayers of poor is with you @ImranKhanPTI This is the money of the people that is being spent on them.
Alex Hales has appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality and food, referring to it as “excellent”.
Responding to a tweet by senior sports journalist Saj Sadiq, who said that the English star may not have been happy with the quality of food served to him at breakfast, Hales said: “It was one meal where the order was incorrect…I found it funny, nothing more.”
“The food and hospitality here has been excellent, hope this clears it up,” he added.
Controversy erupted after Hales, who was playing for Islamabad United in the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), posted a picture of his breakfast, writing: “Toast, omelette and baked beans.”
In the photo, two boiled eggs could be seen with a slice of toast and an unopened packet. Fans and social media users thought the cricketer was indirectly trolling the PCB. They also expressed their reservations over the condition of the egg and took shots at PCB for the poor quality of the food.
However, the right-handed batsman was quick to make things clear, clarifying that there was no issue with the quality and that he posted the photo only because he found it funny.
Meanwhile, PSL6 has been postponed indefinitely after seven positive cases of COVID-19 were detected in the bio-secure bubble.
People are likely to get record relief this Ramzan as a Rs6.37 billion package has been proposed.
According to reports, the Ministry of Industries & Production (MoIP) has proposed the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to approve the mega Ramzan relief package for 2021.
Profit quoted sources at MoIP as saying that under the proposed relief package to be offered through utility stores network, the government would give a subsidy of around Rs40 per kilogramme on sugar, banaspati ghee and wheat flour. The ECC, which would be chaired by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, is likely to approve the historic relief package soon, they added.
As per an MoIP official, the average Ramzan relief package in the past 10 years ranged between Rs1.5 to Rs2.5 billion.
“The relief package last year was Rs2.5 billion and the average savings for the consumers remained Rs10–Rs15 on various items. However, serious intervention will be required this year to control the prices of vegetable ghee and oil, sugar and even wheat flour,” he added.
They said the relief package would include a reduction in prices of 14 essential items by 10pc to 15pc at utility stores, besides the sale of five items at subsidised rates.
Qatar has planned to increase employment opportunities for Pakistanis to over 300,000 in the coming year from the current 150,000, Qatar consul General Mishal M Al-Ansari said on Monday.
While addressing members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), he said that the companies with 100 per cent Pakistani ownership have increased significantly in Qatar.
The Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) agreement between Pakistan and Qatar is a great milestone. Both countries are already working on many joint ventures in areas like defence production, JF-17 aircraft project, defence training, agriculture, food and other industries.
Al-Ansari said that despite terrible conditions due to coronavirus we are fully prepared for FIFA World Cup 2022 and many mega infrastructure projects have been completed.
The Dolphin Squad in Lahore has sealed a local eatery in Bahria Town Lahore, near the ‘Eiffel Tower parking’ when a family eating there found a dead rat inside a shawarma sandwich.
Saleh Saleem posted about the horrific incident on Facebook, stating that his 10-year-old niece was about to eat the Middle Eastern dish but before taking a bite, found the rat in her meal. “These people are playing with the lives of people and also have the audacity to argue about it,” Saleh said in his post.
Saleh also stated that the dolphin squad sealed the restaurant and a ‘key witness’ helped to get the restaurant sealed.
Watch what Saleh’s mother had to say to the chef after they told him about the rat.
Stressed spelt backwards is desserts and nothing better than something sweet and delicious to make your day. Being a hard-core foodie with a very intense sweet-tooth, I love my desserts and pretty much spend all my money trying out new things. All through the year (and the pandemic), I have tried a vast variety of meetha from different home-based businesses and here are the ones I keep going back to.
Without a doubt the best chocolate chip cookies I have had in Lahore. They are crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside and melt the moment they hit your mouth. The light dusting of sea salt adds to the flavour and I guarantee you that you will not stop at one. Priced at Rs 180 (without tax), they are a steal given that they are pretty big in size too.
Look at that chocolate!
Chocolate Brownie Dessert Box by Deliciuex
There are often times when you feel like having something cool and sweet which is not ice-cream. Something that you can eat while watching your favourite season. Something that feeds the soul. In those situations, the Chocolate Brownie Box by Deliciuex is ideal for you. The dessert box, which includes layers of brownies, fudge and mousse topped with a layer of crunchy biscoff, is the stuff of dreams. You will not regret trying this.
P.s. Deliciuex does amazing Lotus Milk Cake also.
Frosti Ice-Cream
There is something very enjoyable about having cold ice-cream in the chilly weather. Frosti has one of the best gelatos the city has to offer and that too in a variety of flavours. Creamy, smooth and oh-so-delectable, Frosti is a must-try for those who love to spend their winters curled up in front of the television watching their favourite show.
Our picks – Salted Caramel, Oreo Crunch and Belgian Chocolate
Cheesecake (Lotus, New York) by The Sweet Rack
I was not a big fan of cheesecakes till I tried the New York Cheesecake by The Sweet Rack. While the cream is rich and absolutely delicious, it was the base that set it apart from other cheesecakes. It does not have your usual biscuit base – it has hints of walnuts and cinnamon which add so much flavour to the overall experience. Highly recommended. The Sweet Rack Lotus Cheesecake is also great and I am sure Lotus lovers will thoroughly enjoy it.
P.s. Their brownies are also divine.
Donuts by Big Fat Rolls
Honestly speaking, I am a Dunkin Donuts loyalist. I have tried multiple donuts from multiple places at multiple food festivals but nothing came close to Dunkin for me…till I discovered Big Fat Rolls. Their donuts are ah-mazing: airy, soft and melt-in-your-mouth kind. My picks from their collection have to be Cherub Classic and Cupid Chocolate.
Note – Before someone attacks me for not including Layers, please note that these picks are from home-based businesses only.
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar, at a recent gathering, was served food with expired masala, leading to action against the caterer, local media reported Friday.
According to reports, the incident took place in Tibba Sultanpur town of Vehari where Buzdar, as well as several others, had arrived for the inauguration of a building of Danish School.
Besides the provincial chief executive, among others served food with expired ground spices were Punjab parliamentarians, including Education Minister Murad Raas and Transport Minister Jahanzeb Khan Khichi; Multan Commissioner Javed Akhtar Mehmood, Vehari Deputy Commissioner Capt (r) Waqas Rasheed and journalists.
While the incident has raised a question mark on the efficiency of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA), action is reportedly being taken against the caterer and his restaurant without any names being revealed.
Earlier, speaking to the media, CM Buzdar had said that Danish School is a state of the art institution which has been built at a huge cost.
“With the establishment of the school, the children of Vehari and nearby districts will be able to seek quality education,” he had said, announcing the construction of new Danish Schools in Bhakkar and Taunsa as well.
He announced Honihaar Punjab Programme to encourage good performing students and said students will be encouraged to excel in academic, sports, fine arts, science and technology fields.
While we do miss eating out, home deliveries have their own charm. Especially in these testing times when we all have to abide by our civic duties and stay home to flatten the curve. Ever since the Sindh Government allowed home deliveries, I have been trying different home-based businesses, the most recent being Aur Chaawal – a food startup offering homemade desi food with warmth and love.
Aur Chaawal is the brainchild of Akhlaque Ahmed, a filmmaker who has a palate for good food. Six months ago, when he launched Aur Chaawal, the eatery started off by offering delicious homemade daal chaawal, kurkure bhindi, masala mirchi, shami kebabs and laal chutney as a package. Priced at Rs 350, this was a complete meal at a very reasonable price delivered right at your doorstep. All items in this package were delicious and one meal was enough for two people.
Akhlaque Ahmed
Slowly, yet steadily Ahmed expanded the menu to include dahi baingan, white chicken korma, machli korma and daal rogan. From there onwards was no looking back. Many like me were quickly hooked to his delicious homemade food which undoubtedly is one of Karachi’s best.
Dahi baingan, White chicken korma
Unfortunately, the pandemic lockdown and subsequent suspension of home deliveries took a toll on eatery too. But not one to be defeated, Akhlaque soon bounced right back once home deliveries were allowed. He came back with a new, appetizing weekly menu much to the delight of the Karachiites. Apart from the food, their service is also impeccable which is why Aur Chaawal has become my go-to eatery for home delivery, even though I have a brilliant cook at home.
One of my favourite things from the menu has to be the beef nihari. It is soft, succulent and full of flavour and I can say without a doubt one of the best available in Karachi. Highly recommended!
Beef nihari
Machli korma with fish is another of my favourites, as is the prawn biryani.
Machli Korma
Prawn Biryani
Aur Chaawal is among the best desi food outlets in the city and you have to try it at least once because I guarantee you, after that you’ll be hooked.
With COVID-19 lockdowns, restaurants across the city (and country) have remained closed for over 3 months now. As a hard-core foodie, I have been missing going out to try out different yet delicious cuisines. This prompted me to look up some home-based food delivery outlets in the city and that’s when I came across a mother-daughter startup. What intrigued me was their Iranian cuisine, something which my husband and I always enjoy eating. And lo and behold I just discovered a gem.
Born in Tehran, in the heart of Iran, Elham learned the craft of Afghani and Iranian cuisine from a generation of exceptional cooks whilst spending a majority of her pre-marriage life in the Middle East. After moving to Karachi back in 1992, she won the hearts of many of her family and friends with her authentic Iranian food. When the lockdown was imposed and everyone went into quarantine, Elham discovered that she had a lot of free time on her hands now, allowing her to work on an idea that had been lingering on her and her daughter Mahum’s minds for a while. Free time along with the wish to be financially independent, gave Elham and Mahum the motivation to use their free time to do something productive. That’s when Zafraancame into being with the vision to spread the joys of Iranian flavours to the people of Pakistan.
Zafraan’s menu is simple yet authentic and prices very reasonable. They offer home delivery, which is a blessing in the current situation, and pay special attention to hygiene and taste.
Let’s begin with Chullu Kebabs which literally means ‘rice and kebab’ in Persian. It is the national dish of Iran and also the most popular. These legendary kebabs are a fan favourite and Zafraan’s ace of spade. The dish consists of buttery saffron rice and top quality minced beef kebabs served with grilled tomato and tomato sauce. The tenderness of the kebabs along with a combination of tomato sauce and buttery rice bring together an abundance of flavour that pays a rich tribute to the culture of Iran.
Chelow Kebabs
Next up, we have the Afghani Aush sometimes spelt ‘Aash’ meaning ‘noodle’ in Afghani. Aush is comfort food at its best. It’s a noodle soup consisting of tomato-based broth, filled with chicken chunks and mixed herbs and spices. The flavour is distinct and nothing like any other soup served in Pakistan.
Afghani Aush
Then comes the classic Zereshk Pulao, also known as “jewelled rice” because of the red barberries in it. The dish is balanced with a hint of sweetness for the perfect taste. The rice is served with Persian chicken gravy. This dish is exotic and simple at the same time and a must-try if you are a fan of any type of rice and chicken gravy.
Zereshk Pulao
Last but not least is my favourite Khoresh Gheymeh, which is mutton and split pea stew – a traditional and popular Iranian stew – topped with fried potatoes and served with aromatic white rice. If this doesn’t tickle your taste buds, I would be quite surprised.
Khoresh Gheymeh
Though quarantine and lockdowns have snatched the livelihoods of so many across Pakistan, the silver lining is where courageous women like Elham and Mahum have started their own business with an intent to not only serve classic, authentic Irani/ Afghani food but also the desire to be financially independent.
The residents of Peshawar helped the policemen positioned on the roads to protect them.
As per reports, a few volunteers gave food packets to the officers performing lockdown duties in the city.
Health professionals and medical workers are undoubtedly fighting against coronavirus on the front lines, but we can’t ignore the role being played by the police, said a volunteer.
The policemen thanked the volunteers for the gesture.
