Oriental cuisine: CPEC brings boon for Chinese restaurants

Owners say influx of Chinese nationals helps economic growth of hotels and restaurants

ISLAMABAD: The number of Chinese restaurants is growing significantly in the federal capital and the post CPEC situation has also forced local eateries to offer Chinese dishes after an influx of Chinese nationals in Islamabad.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) data revealed that there are around 15 Chinese restaurants in total in the city while 12 among them have been opened after 2013.



A Chinese restaurant's manager said Mei Kong was the first restaurant introduced in Rawalpindi back in the 1970s. Ten years later a restaurant known as China Town was established in the federal capital.

The restaurants' growth, he said, is not only associated with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) but a large number of Chinese traders and tourists who are potential customers who do not have direct links with the project. However, he said that after CPEC's launching, the inflow of the Chinese customers has increased substantially which has helped the economic growth of the hotels and restaurants industry.



Moreover, he stated that earlier the Chinese workforce was confined to mining and energy projects areas such as Saindak energy plants etc. adding that now they were present in major cities of Pakistan in large numbers.

Another Chinese restaurant Kim Mun's Manager Andrew said his restaurant receives a large number of locals and foreign customers which shows that appreciation for Chinese food is not limited only to Chinese nationals.



An owner of a Pakistani hotel, said Chinese customers visit his restaurant frequently for Pakistani cuisine and enjoy local dishes especially biryani which is among their favourites.

In addition to Chinese increased number of restaurants and some small setups at homes are also offering Sino foods to their potential customers.



A Chinese national running his own small setup in a rented apartment said, "Pakistan's spicy food for a long time does not suit us we have to get back to our traditional food to which we are more accustomed". The Chinese nationals working in big business outlets like ZTE and Huawei were his potential clients and they were enjoying their local taste at affordable rates.

Another Chinese restaurant Jade's Operational Manager negating the impression that the restaurant only had Chinese customers said majority of their clients were Pakistanis and foreign nationals. "Chinese eateries, due to being hygienic and abdominal friendly are now popular across the globe" he remarked.

"We are no longer restricted to our traditional dishes and besides oriental cuisines, fast foods like pizzas and burgers are also being offered here in Chinese eating houses, which was not expected in the past,” he informed.

He however admitted that the Chinese dishes are a bit expensive in comparison with local cuisines and that is why these facilities are established in the well-paying areas. "A good Chinese restaurant costs over Rs30 million to establish while some Rs15 million money is extra required to run future affairs," he said.

The official data reveals that 43 projects that directly fall under the CPEC banner have seen a tripling of the number of Chinese nationals in Pakistan to more than 30,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2018.