Cuisine of Karachi

Karachi cuisine (Urdu: کراچی پکوان) refers to the cuisine found mainly in the city of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is a multicultural cuisine as a result of the city consisting of various ethnic groups from different parts of Pakistan.^[1] Karachi is considered the melting pot of Pakistan.^[2]

The cuisine of Karachi is strongly influenced by the city's Muhajir population, who came from various parts of British India and settled primarily in Karachi after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Most Urdu speaking Muslims have traditionally been based in Karachi, hence the city is known for multi cultural tastes in its cuisine. These Muslims maintained their old established culinary traditions, including variety of dishes and beverages.

Karachi cuisine is renowned for its cultural fusion, due to various empires and peoples living in this mega city. As a result many multi ethnic cuisines collaboratively had an influence on the style of Karachi food. The Pakistani cuisines such as Sindhi cuisine, Punjabi cuisine, Pashtun cuisine, Kalash cuisine, Saraiki cuisine, Kashmiri cuisine, Balochi cuisine, Chitrali cuisine and other regional cuisines have also influenced the cuisine of Karachi.