By Sadia Mazhar
SAHIWAL: “I chose this profession because of two reasons: the first being my health and second my religion,” says Sharoon, who is a head chef in Sahiwal in a fast food restaurant.
Sharoon has also undergone an open-heart surgery while in 9th grade back in 2007.
It is his 5th job after completing his degree from Cotham Sahiwal back in 2017. “I was fired from last three restaurants because of my religion,” Sharoon told this scribe forcing a smile on his otherwise gloomy face.
Religious minorities are forced to hide their identity to run their food businesses in big cities of Pakistan because when Muslims majority stops buying from their outlets, their businesses suffer a lot.
Sahiwal is a Muslim majority city having a Christian community as second majority population.
It is a peaceful city and has never witnessed any communal incidents in history. This city is home to Baha’i, Ahmadi and Sikh communities as well but does not have any Hindu family.
Sharoon, 28, lives in Christian colony adjacent to the Catholic Church on old Civil Line Sahiwal.
He is the son of a single mother who has sold half of her house for his open-heart surgery when he was 17.
It was after 2020 when Sahiwal began to witness winds of change such as a taste for international fast-food chains, clothing brands and shopping malls. The population of the city grew also because inauguration of University of Sahiwal (UoS) and a medical college.
Students from other cities thronged in the city for admissions in these institutions. This rising number of young students has been attracting investors to invest in Sahiwal.
“We have majority Christian chefs in Sahiwal,” Faizaan Masih told this scribe. While explaining the reason of majority Christian chefs in restaurants of Sahiwal, he said, “I think lack of education is the biggest reason of the majority Christian chefs in our city.”
Now we have Cotham and because of this institution, many youngsters are expert in making pizza, desserts and Italian food but earlier we just had traditional chefs in traditional restaurants like Usmania and Five Ways in Sahiwal.”
Faizaan, 32, is about to start his own pizza outlet with the brand name “Pizza Mania” in Farid Town Sahiwal. He has worked with number of restaurants in Lahore, Multan and then Sahiwal.
Talking about facing discrimination as minority, he said, “I never faced such arrogance in any city. No one ever embarrassed me because of my religion as I have worked as head chef in many restaurants.
All employees and staff, who worked under my supervision, always gave me respect and appreciated my skills.”
“Sharoon is expert in zinger burger , Chinese food, especially fried rice, Manchurian and dry green chili and do not forget to try his molten lava cake,” Perwisha, his younger sister excitedly tells us about the best recipes of his brother
He is currently working as head chef in a restaurant named Chaye Pani .
His working hours start from 4 p.m. to till late at night and he says he enjoys his work because it is not only his profession but also his passion.
“Long working hours and underpayment are two big issues in restaurants,” Faizan said, adding, “One year ago, we had to work for 9 hours in a day but now they have increased the working hours from 9 to 12 hours .
It is hectic, indeed! When we demand an increase in salaries, the owners ignore and threaten us with replacement.”
“Yes, now with the competition in market, we are suffering with cuts in our salaries,” Sharoon agreed with Faizaan.
Sharoon said that a few months ago, the staff of Chaye, Pani suddenly received a message from the owner that they were going to fire all the Christian staff from their restaurants because their Muslim clients did not want to eat food cooked by Christian chefs. “It was a shocking news for all of us. But luckily, he sold his restaurant and our new owner said that no one is going anywhere because skills are far above than anything,” he added.
Cheezious and Cheezi Bits are the most crowded fast food restaurants in Sahiwal and Faizaan has worked for both as head chef because his pizza recipe is mouthwatering and no restaurant wants to miss him because of his skills, expertise and friendly nature.
Sharoon faced this discrimination during the initial days of his career but now he has earned a name and enjoys his working environment and Faizaan too never faces any insolence.
People of Sahiwal are foody and hoteling is now trending in this city. Interestingly, no one ever asks for the list of chefs with their professional degree and religion details.
They just asked for the menu.
