KARACHI: Foreign chefs from countries such as Italy, France, Brazil and Azerbaijan are recreating internationally renowned dishes using Pakistani produce in Karachi this week as part of the Global Cuisine Show, with the organizer saying the event will help boost Pakistan’s agri-produce exports.

The Global Cuisine Show is a signature feature of the three-day International Food and Agriculture Exhibition (FoodAg 2025) which is taking place in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi from Nov. 25-27. The exhibition, designed to showcase the strength and diversity of Pakistan’s agricultural sector, is expected to feature over 500 exhibitors and more than 850 international buyers from more than 80 countries.

The Global Cuisine Show features over 15 international chefs, live cooking stations and premium Pakistani ingredients that each chef uses to craft dishes from their native countries. The show also features halal meat specialties to export-grade mangoes and seafood.

“The premise is that any international cuisine can be prepared using Pakistani ingredients,” Iqra Ilyas, assistant manager of the Agro and Food Division of the event’s organizer, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), told Arab News on Tuesday. She added the event’s theme has been titled: ‘Flavours beyond borders.’

“So, the focus of the event is to enhance exports of Pakistan’s agri-produce and through Global Cuisine Show, we are marketing our agri-produce,” Ilyas said.

She said Pakistan had recorded a “tremendous increase” in its food exports in the last three FoodAg editions.

“Our exports, specifically our rice exports, have increased in the Middle East,” Ilyas said. “[Also,] our meat exports have increased in the Middle East.”

Pakistan offers several traditional and diverse culinary specialties. However, the country has recently seen an influx of eateries open that offer Korean, Middle Eastern and Japanese dishes. The Global Cuisine Show 2025 has brought together chefs from Italy, France, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Brazil, among countries, to prepare dishes using Pakistani ingredients.

‘SOMETHING BETTER EVERY YEAR’

French chef Farid Mebarek told Arab News he has been living in the UAE for the past two decades and specializes in French-Mediterranean cuisine that he helms with North African spices. He is currently working as an executive chef in a restaurant in Abu Dhabi.

“I am so happy that I discovered Pakistan and the items such their vegetables and other flavors that I really love,” Mebarek said.

The French chef used potatoes, meat and some spices to prepare Shepherd’s Pie. He instantly took a liking to Pakistani products.

“This is my first time [at the Global Cuisine Show],” Mebarek said. “I love it. And I really hope to see something better every year in Pakistan. The people [of Pakistan] are very kind.”

Italian chef Fortunato Ostacolo, who is based in Dubai, was participating in the Global Cuisine Show for the second time. He shared that a lot has changed since the previous two FoodAg editions.

“I used some Pakistani ingredients because I am based in Dubai, so it’s easy to get them, particularly vegetables and some herbs,” Ostacolo told Arab News.

 He prepared a pizza for the show, using local mozzarella cheese and tomatoes in addition to some other herbs and ingredients.

 “I am interested in the ingredients. I am going to spend a few minutes to see the companies that export [Pakistani ingredients] around the world,” the Italian chef said.

 Najeebullah Khan, a chef from Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, said his expertise lay in Japanese cuisine.

 “Today, we are making Japanese Fusion Pizza here,” he said, adding that its main ingredient was the tuna fish.

Khan said he was trying to make people aware that the tuna fish in Pakistan was exemplary in quality and taste.

“It’s cheaper in price as well and tastes really good, compared to imported [tuna],” he said.