As anticipated for long, Burger King is finally coming to Pakistan, most likely in mid-2014, as MCR Pakistan, the franchisee of Pizza Hut in Pakistan, has entered into a master franchise agreement with Burger King Worldwide Inc, The Express Tribune has learnt.
While BK and MCR didn’t disclose the details of the agreement, sources familiar with the matter said that the bidding took place in Dubai a few weeks ago. Three parties, including a Dubai-based investor, participated in the bidding, which went in favour of the MCR Group.
There is not much skilled staff in the market, which may require engaging foreign trainers and the company hasn’t yet identified locations. According to the Dawn ad, BK’s first outlet will be opened in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (63)
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One political party supporters will enjoy a lot. Actually they belong to burger families lolx
Joke of the decade ! @Asad Malik:
Anyone remember that place called "King Burger" in bahadurabad back in the 80s, it closed in the early 90s. It had the best burgers before Mr. Burger came to town. Memories...
@aisha: No way, bruger inc. on badr commercial is the best in karachi right now.
BK is opening in Pakistan .... but the facts about bidding are incorrect !
LoL ppl here are telling more about there personal capacity rather than commenting on BK , kfc , mcdonalds and hardeees ARE crap infront of BK , taste is BK , its not about affording or not , its about a new and goood thing coming if they are selling it halal , which for many here doesnt sound halal , but overall gulf BK is thr even in Saudi since a long long time , seriously laughing on comparison bw bun kebab and BK , dude if u like it have it , but hw can u compare them lmao! BK is a qualityy product!
Wow what a great news for calories collectors! probably slow poisoning
So basically, Burger King would be a DoA brand. We've all seen how bad Pizza Hut is now.
@Asif: Thats quite an impressive list buddy, but don't hold your breath. And Taco Bell never opened any franchise in Karachi, the one that opened back in 1998 was 'Taco Maker'.
@Fudge: The way we cook meat here the germs have no chance. Anyway, franchises are not here to feed the poor of 3rd world countries, they just want our money. Lets not be too eager to hand it over ;)
@Pakistani Ostrich: LOL, that was exactly my comment too.
The title of this article completely misled me. I thought "Burger King" meant Imran Khan. WOW, newspapers have to be careful going forward.
See a lot of Hardees fans here. Wonder if they ever open in Pakistan, what would they call their "six dollar burger"...."Cheso rupee burger" ?
People who are commenting that desi food is better than American should realize that.... as long as Pakistanis will continue with their inferiority complex and consider any foreign brand of item superior, businesses will continue opening these franchises in Pakistan. When I visit Karachi from US my jaw drops seeing the long lines at Pizza Hut and McDonald's etc. These are the places that are looked down up on by the educated in the West as they serve high calorie unhealthy food or are used as last resort when they are in a hurry. Nobody in US (health conscious or with good education) makes plans to go out to Pizza Hut or other fast food joints weeks in advance, taking family and friends, dressed in their best. People in Pakistan use these fast food joints to feel good about themselves and to portray to the others that they have 'arrived' and are living the dream. In reality they are paying top $$ to buy unhealthy food and line up the pockets of these major corporations who sell genetically modified food and have no regards for the consumer's health.
What's all the fuss about? As these junk food companies losing their revenue in the west because people are more conscious about their diet and turning towards healthy fresh food, these companies are desperately looking for new marketes.
I am least bothered about it as I am not used to eat the tasteless junk food.
For me Pakistani dishes are more important as each Pakistani dish has its own taste in it.
After eating the junk food either in afternoon or in evening, I do not feel that I have taken lunch or dinner.
I warn my countrymen this is the worst you will lay your hands on for American fast food
Hardees, Mc Donalds, KFC though not all healthy but still are way better of than this
Burger king for burger peoples????
Finally! it is high time.... Burger King is definitely the king of BURGERz in the world!!
i have tried literally all the burger brands in UAE, and the bestest was this sexy Burger King!!! this news has made my day :D
@Khan: 1st world problems my friend. We are not there yet to worry about genetically modified meat when we don't even get hygienic meat. :).
@mota: Don't worry. I bought a meal at Burger King ten years ago, and I am still alive.
@Fudge: It applies to all countries regardless. Our local produce is more nutritious than their corporatized meat industry any day. I guess you haven't seen "Food Inc." yet. It would be an eye opener for you my friend, must watch it.
And just when I joined the gym..burger king lands in pakistan
Great news ! More obesity, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension in Pakistan.
Are not Pakistanis hate USA and US products?
@Aiman Kay: Agree on that, but listen, there is no limit for restaurants... i don't know cuz i am an A-level student, but for office workers, the employees buy food from one restaurant and then the next eat from another, there is no limit..... well not in Pakistan..
People in the west eat from these restaurant on daily basis, they don't cook food in their home...
the need for fast food restaurant won't effect these local stuff, it is just the diversity of taste that is there in Pakistani's which attracts these foreign chains...
@Pakistani Ostrich: OMG dude i think i laughed too hard on this LOL!!hahahaha
@Pakistani Ostrich: Hahahahaha, right on !
Do I smell an Indian troll?
No, not really. KFC and McDonald's are doing great business across Pakistan. They have even expanded to smaller cities, and even roadside stations on major highways. There was even a mobile KFC in Bahria Town.
So I'm pretty sure BK will do good business. I don't understand why ET would publish a petty comment. The point we should be asking is, will this affect the health of the nation? Seeing as onky a small portion of the population can afford such food, for the most part the answer is "No"
There are no Burger King franchises in India.
Indian McDonald's does not even serve beef. I think the ban on beef (or pork) is an insult to personal choice and liberty, and that and UPA wrangling has prevented India from getting BK for a while now.
For those whining, yeah it's junk food. But when you live in Pakistan, junk food is sort of a novelty considering you're eating Desi food at home everyday. And man oh man. Whoppers are heaven. This comes from someone who gyms 6 days a week now MashAllah and hates carbs generally.
"Burger King finally comes to Pakistan" ..I though the news was about Imran khan coming back to pakistan from UK. :)
How one can compare it with Local "Bun Kabab"? Though Bun Kabab might suit oneself but hygiene is the very thing most of the people look. I would prefer BK over Bun Kabab.
Will be loss deal in longrun in terms earnings
Ah yes, time for the bourgeoisie to tuck in and become obese like their Western brethren. Consume or die!
I remember the time when I was a kid in 1994 and McDonald's came to India. I live in Calcutta and I passed my matric exam and Calcutta was deprived of it.I did my mba and holla, mcchicken has come to Calcutta.it is a personal preference of all people what they want to eat.I saw a burger king in amritsar too a few years back btw. Rab rakha
More cholestrol and saturated fat in Pakistan.
Ammi jan ka roti with daal and lots of Love is the best food :)
BK will be putting up hamburgers on their menu too - for those looking for some additional "variety"
@Halaal: Hand-slaughtered? I'm afraid mass-production does not permit such things. The animals go through giant nightmarish machines in the developed world and then these chains in Pakistan proudly tell you all their ingredients are imported as if that's a good thing.
Furthermore, you should consider yourself lucky if what you get is meat at all when it is imported, and not mostly "pink slime beef product".
Mr Burger is way better than Burger King
@Khan: Your logic probably only applies in developed countries. Do you have any idea what people get from local shops? And the level of hygiene they maintain? And you worry about "genetically modified meat"?! Wishful thinking. I would still have their (BK et cetera's) chicken then what sells on the street (if I could, of course).
@Aiman Kay: Don't generalize. Many Pakistanis love these burgers in or outside Pakistan, irrespective.
super excited
Double Whopper ... yay !!!
Pakistanis abroad always look for desi food be it Chiken Tikka, Dahi Baday Chaat or Haleem. I just can't understand why Pakistanis with so much choice of great food can like a bland burger. Yuck. Even a Bengali ka Burger can easily beat any McDonalds or BK hands down.
if as a nation we needed more calories!
Are you kidding me, what kind of skilled staff do you need for running a Food business franchise, as you mentioned it is owned by Pizza Hut so I'm sure they can deliver. Pakistan is home to one of the best pharma's and IT companies including Google, IBM and others.
Albaik, KSA is much better than any
Hardees wins hands down
I hope they serve halal hand slaughtered meat
I would rather prefer old school bun kabab and desi food. Hate all the the burgers from KFC, McDonalds and other fast food franchises.
I don't know how this becomes a news item for ET. I think ET's readership is limited to the elite of our society.
Fat Burger is better than BK
A big whopper meal with upsized fries and drink please. And replace the fries with onion rings.
Hardees is better than BK
....and Finally!
yahoo.