Vegans and vegetarians in Pakistan

[gani999]

For a country that swears by its niharis, kababs and mutton biryanis, vegetarianism seems to be growing in Pakistan. Apparently in recent years, a lot of Pakistanis have reduced their meat intake and switched to a primarily vegetarian diet, according to this article.

https://images.dawn.com/news/1186861

So how widespread are vegetarianism and veganism in Pakistan? Do you have 'pure-veg' restaurants and eating places like India does?

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

For a country that swears by its niharis, kababs and mutton biryanis, vegetarianism seems to be growing in Pakistan. Apparently in recent years, a lot of Pakistanis have reduced their meat intake and switched to a primarily vegetarian diet, according to this article.

https://images.dawn.com/news/1186861

So how widespread are vegetarianism and veganism in Pakistan? Do you have 'pure-veg' restaurants and eating places like India does?

Interesting comments in the article. Personally, I can never quit meat. Need a bite of chicken at least once a day... In form of Chicken slice for my sandwich or a proper curry.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

For a country that swears by its niharis, kababs and mutton biryanis, vegetarianism seems to be growing in Pakistan. Apparently in recent years, a lot of Pakistanis have reduced their meat intake and switched to a primarily vegetarian diet, according to this article.

https://images.dawn.com/news/1186861

So how widespread are vegetarianism and veganism in Pakistan? Do you have 'pure-veg' restaurants and eating places like India does?

Being fully vegetarian or vegan is relatively uncommon.

The article says 'a lot of' people are switching over which is difficult to substantiate.

Some people may have primarily vegetarian diets for economic reasons and not for animal welfare reasons. Those that subscribe to a fully vegan philosophy for 'moral reasons' must only be an exceptionally small percentage of the population.

What is becoming more common is that people are reducing their meat consumption for percieved health benefits but a reduction to zero amongst the masses will never happen. I haven't come across any vegan or veg only resteraunts. I think it may be a weird concept for people to grasp, perhaps there are some in elite areas.

I don't live in Pakistan so these are my observations as an occasional traveller/tourist so a Pakistani resident may disagree.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Interesting comments in the article. Personally, I can never quit meat. Need a bite of chicken at least once a day... In form of Chicken slice for my sandwich or a proper curry.

Chicken isn't meat ..

 

[Sidilicious]

Being fully vegetarian or vegan is relatively uncommon.

The article says 'a lot of' people are switching over which is difficult to substantiate.

Some people may have primarily vegetarian diets for economic reasons and not for animal welfare reasons. Those that subscribe to a fully vegan philosophy for 'moral reasons' must only be an exceptionally small percentage of the population.

What is becoming more common is that people are reducing their meat consumption for percieved health benefits but a reduction to zero amongst the masses will never happen. I haven't come across any vegan or veg only resteraunts. I think it may be a weird concept for people to grasp, perhaps there are some in elite areas.

I don't live in Pakistan so these are my observations as an occasional traveller/tourist so a Pakistani resident may disagree.

Go to any hip bougie area in the main cities and you ill find a few of them. Generally, the proprietor and the the employees sport a longish beard with curled moustaches. Though, I guess the beard sighting might not be an indication of hip in Pakistan. Though, sleeve tattoos and beanies are the other give aways.

 

[Major]

Dont know about this, maybe people are switching due to health reasons or economic reasons as vegtables and pulses are the only thing that a person could afford now.

In Pindi/Isb i haven't come across a vegetarian restaurant. Even if you buy a dish from some restaurant by asking them to not add meat and give only the simple dish, even than that meal wont be fully vegetarian as it would be cooked in the broth of the meat, or would have chunks of meat in it which they seperate after cooking is done.

In India, they have those special green and red labels, we dont have that. Difficult country to live in for a vegetarian.

 

[Major]

The articles comment section depicts the Pakistani society. Cannot respect the choices people make and than attribute everything with Islam.

Some people think being vegetarian is anti Islam

 

[Local.Dada]

any vegan or veg only resteraunts.

.

This vegan and vegetarian are just fancy words.

Daal/ Subzi which is a staple food in our part of our world is a vegan meal technically.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

This vegan and vegetarian are just fancy words.

Daal/ Subzi which is a staple food in our part of our world is a vegan meal technically.

Yes absolutely - but to find someone in Pakistan eating solely these meals for the religious/moral reasons that vegetations or vegans do, is relatively uncommon in Pakistan.

People who solely eat these items would only be doing so for economic reasons. I don't know about others on the thread but where I am from serving solely lentils or subzi to a guest would be a sign of embarrassment!

 

[the Great Khan]

Every Dhaba has daal chavvul..veggie samosas are common..halwa puri channay are common..alloo muttar can be found easily...baingan, turnips etc also eaten throughout..masoor ki daal Maash ki daal lobiya all common..

Yes they may be eaten alongside a meat dish or mixed with meat but many Pakistanis can be classed as semi veg..some due to necessity others from choice..

But you won't find pure vegetarian only restaurants as being widespread..we just love ghosht too much..

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Chicken isn't meat ..

Trying to be cute heh.
What is your definition of meat ?
As per me it is the parts of animals or birds that people eat.

 

[Major]

Every Dhaba has daal chavvul..veggie samosas are common..halwa puri channay are common..alloo muttar can be found easily...baingan, turnips etc also eaten throughout..masoor ki daal Maash ki daal lobiya all common..

Yes they may be eaten alongside a meat dish or mixed with meat but many Pakistanis can be classed as semi veg..some due to necessity others from choice..

But you won't find pure vegetarian only restaurants as being widespread..we just love ghosht too much..

you are absolutely right. The above mentioned dishes are wide spread. But the problem of is that the same spoon is being used from which chicken was cooked and than using it in the dal dish does sometimes a meat chunk would find its way.

I might be thinking from the way how when we eat halal food than we dont want the utensils used to cook pig not touch the halal food.

 

[Local.Dada]

Yes absolutely - but to find someone in Pakistan eating solely these meals for the religious/moral reasons that vegetations or vegans do, is relatively uncommon in Pakistan.

People who solely eat these items would only be doing so for economic reasons. I don't know about others on the thread but where I am from serving solely lentils or subzi to a guest would be a sign of embarrassment!

I wasn’t talking about religious/ moral reasons. This veganism is more of a health fad than a religious one.

The point I was making is many times we
might just want to have a light lunch/ dinner with just plain daal/chawal. However we never call that fancy words like vegan diet. If people are just don’t it for a fad and finding these weird recipes than they are just posers.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Trying to be cute heh.
What is your definition of meat ?
As per me it is the parts of animals or birds that people eat.

Well it's white meat. Ostrich is red meat.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

[MENTION=134230]gani999[/MENTION] Eating vegetables is very common amongst Pakistanis. We just eat meat alongside them. All this beef and meat jokes are mostly to irritate Indians.

I haven't seen any practice of veganism though.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

You can he either Pakistani Muslim or vegetarian.. not both

 

[PakLFC]

I recall Laxman Sivaramakrishnan once commentating in Pak saying he was a vegan. Must be so difficult for vegans in Pak. Not the place to be for them.

 

[Afzal_K]

Many women who are diet conscious are, but eat meat in festivities etc

 

[Local.Dada]

I recall Laxman Sivaramakrishnan once commentating in Pak saying he was a vegan. Must be so difficult for vegans in Pak. Not the place to be for them.

You don’t get daal, choley, vegetable curries in Pakistan along with rice and rotis?

 

[Colorblind Genius]

For a country that swears by its niharis, kababs and mutton biryanis, vegetarianism seems to be growing in Pakistan. Apparently in recent years, a lot of Pakistanis have reduced their meat intake and switched to a primarily vegetarian diet, according to this article.

https://images.dawn.com/news/1186861

So how widespread are vegetarianism and veganism in Pakistan? Do you have 'pure-veg' restaurants and eating places like India does?

I think poverty could be one of the reason.
Inflation all over the world is going through the roof and meat affordability is also hard for many in Pakistan.

But, as most vegetables are cruciferous, and then, you top it off with stuff like beans and chick peas, it turns you into a gas bomb ... I think that's one of the reasons why many people in Pakistan avoid cruciferous veggies. They have to pray salah, so they don't wanna cut one loose after every few minutes.

 

[PakLFC]

You don’t get daal, choley, vegetable curries in Pakistan along with rice and rotis?

Not the veggie meals like in India I feel.

 

[Justcrazy]

you are absolutely right. The above mentioned dishes are wide spread. But the problem of is that the same spoon is being used from which chicken was cooked and than using it in the dal dish does sometimes a meat chunk would find its way.

I might be thinking from the way how when we eat halal food than we dont want the utensils used to cook pig not touch the halal food.

I do not think anyone will give chunk of meat for price of vegetable !

But the point you raised , customers have to say if they are not comfortable same utensils being used in both veg and non veg

 

[Syed1]

Actually dawats or eating out is 99% meat based but alot of people have daal or sabzi as a daily staple often with a meat side dish but many times without it as well.


Not many households are pure veg, and if you do a dawat for someone and serve only veg then they would be put off.


Dawn caters to 1% elites of Pakistan, some of whom may have adopted a vegan lifestyle to mimic the West. Also those giving reasoning that veganism is a cure for climate change then that is complete baloney.... More forests have been cut down to grow food than for anything else.