KARACHI: As Pakistan’s biggest food festival kicked off its 10th edition on Friday, its organizer said it had turned out to be a “huge success” since it was owned by the residents of the city where it was held.
Karachi Eat Festival is an annual event that has been taking place in the city of lights every year in January. It features hundreds of eateries and offers a variety of cuisines to visitors. The festival requires all participating eateries to bring at least one new food item for people which is not available on their regular menu.
The year 2023 marks the completion of a decade since the festival first took place in Karachi. The event was cancelled in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic amid limited turnout.
As the festival returns in full swing this year, the top official of the organization that arranges it every year said the event was envisioned by the people of the city to build “community spirit” and “revitalize public spaces.”
“In ten years, people understand that the reason why Karachi Eat lasted this long and why it’s such a huge success is because it was never owned by any brand,” Omar Omari, the chief executive officer of Eat Food Pakistan, told Arab News. “It was owned by the people of the city where it’s taking place.”
The picture uploaded on January 15, 2022, shows children participating in a game at Karachi Eat festival in Karachi, Pakistan. (Photo courtesy: Karachi Eat)
He maintained it had never been conceived as a business plan.
“It is set into the heart of people and that’s something you can’t just take away,” he continued. “It has grown over time because people have felt like it’s their own festival.”
The picture taken January 12, 2022 shows people buying food at Karachi Eat in Karachi, Pakistan. (Photo courtesy: Karachi Eat)
Omari said the platform had tried to promote Pakistani brands and encouraged homebased food businesses by bringing them to the forefront.
He informed that 80 to 90 percent of the stalls initially were set up by restaurants that were already serving people in market while about 10 to 20 percent featured homebased businesses. Ten years on, the situation has reversed.
“Over the years, this festival has offered a platform to people where they can experiment with food,” Omari added. “It is also the reason why the food scene in Karachi specifically has evolved. People have gone on to become a shop, a chain and an outlet.”
