Culinary arts a beacon of hope for unemployed youth

Local teacher says studying the subject promises a bright future for students

MULTAN: Umar was ecstatic after securing a job as a chef in a reputed hotel in the city. Living in Muzaffarabad, he was the sole breadwinner for his family.

Around eight months ago, he enrolled in a culinary school and completed a six-month extensive course. After graduating, Umar was hounded by offers from food chains, hotels and companies for his impressive cooking skills.

Speaking to APP, he maintained that the course has enabled him to contribute towards his household expense. He attributed his newfound financial independence to the culinary course.

Muhammad Faheem, a teacher at a local culinary school, revealed that he had trained hundreds of unemployed youngsters for the past 14 years. He explained that studying the culinary arts promises a bright future for students.

“The skills that students learn from these courses enable them to earn a handsome living for themselves and their families. In the same way, they are also equipped to initiate their own business,” he said.

Many of his students have now gone on to opening their own fast food joints in South Punjab and are earning a significant amount at the end of the month. Faheem said that a skilled chef, who has studied the art, is very different from a chef who has never had formal training. “At these institutes, students are taught theory, are explained kitchen management, food safety, proper hygiene practices and a whole host of other necessary topics important for someone working in and managing a kitchen,” he said.

Elaborating on the scope of chefs, Faheem said that the country was witnessing a change as tourism was being prioritised. “Tourism will surely attract millions of tourists in the near future. Similarly, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will also create opportunities for skilled chefs,” he added.

The business community from across the world will visit the country because of CPEC, thereby increasing the demand for skilled chefs, he said.

He maintained that many of his students had also settled abroad after working for international food chains and five-star hotels. Highlighting the profit margin in the fast-food business, he stated that a zinger burger was prepared at a cost of Rs60. However, it could be sold for Rs200 to Rs350.

Qamar Zaman, the manager of another local institute for hotel management, said that skilled chefs could earn between Rs30,000, for an average chef, to Rs500,000, for an executive chef, per month depending on their skillset. He revealed that formally trained chefs were also preferred by local, national and multinational companies.

Qamar added that skilled female chefs were also running home-based businesses and supplying food items to offices on a daily basis.

Bahauddin Zakariya University Institute of Food Sciences and Nutrition Chairman Dr Saeed Akhtar stated that skilled chefs were the need of the hour. “Skilled chefs are trained to consider hygiene and presentation when preparing food items,” he said.

“Nowadays, customers have become more aware and are not ready to compromise on food safety,” he explained. Customers are also more aesthetically inclines and prefer to pay more money for the food that is presented in an attractive manner.

“Unemployed individuals should consider learning the culinary arts as it offers a better return on investment,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2019.