KARACHI: Pakistan’s Museum of Food, a digital hub featuring the rich and diverse culinary landscape of Pakistan, was launched in a ceremony held here on Tuesday.

The museum, launched by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture and the British Council, is said to be the largest and most comprehensive exploration of Pakistani cuisine online, featuring over 9,000 images, over 90 videos, and over 100 stories that capture the vibrant culinary tapestry of the country and beyond.

The project aims to preserve and celebrate the culture and heritage of Pakistani food, as well as document its dynamic evolution and progression.

Speaking on the occasion, project director Ms Obaid-Chinoy hoped that it would inspire people to explore, appreciate and enjoy the culinary culture, lineage and food practices of Pakistan as well as to contribute their own stories and recipes to this living narrative.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s museum of food contains over 9,000 images, 90 videos and over 100 stories

“Pakistan’s culinary heritage is an intrinsic part of the country’s cultural identity, but with the passing of generations and the challenges brought about by climate change, certain domestic practices and traditional recipes are at high risk of being lost. In response to this looming crisis, we embarked on a mission to not just reminisce about the flavours of yesteryear but to actively preserve and revitalise the vanishing recipes and customs that define our past,” she added.

Amit Sood, the director and founder of Google Arts & Culture, said that it was an online feast for the senses.

Laila Jamil, the Director of Arts Pakistan at the British Council, said they are delighted to have supported the project.

Together with Google Arts & Culture, Ms Obaid-Chinoy and her team explored the genesis of iconic dishes across the country, capturing the essence of Pakistan’s culinary and cultural diversity.

From Gwadar’s seafood to Multan’s decadent Sohan Halwa and the innovative incorporation of yak meat in Hunza, the crew travelled through Pakistan’s varied terrain to illuminate how regional topography moulds the nation’s distinct eating patterns, said a press release.

Venturing to a multitude of eateries across the country, Ms Obaid-Chinoy and her cohort of filmmakers aimed to capture the essence of traditional dining practices while tracing the nuanced impact of modernisation on the nation’s evolving taste palate.

As the project celebrates Pakistan’s culinary heritage and its dynamic progression, it embraces a collaborative spirit, inviting individuals to join in its pursuit to archive Pakistan’s culinary landscape. The website can be accessed at https://goo.gle/pakistanfood.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2023