HP Newsroom

The culinary world witnessed an unprecedented display of talent and expertise at the four-day Pakistan International Culinary Championship (PICC) 2024, organized by the Chefs Association of Pakistan (CAP) in the strategic partnership of College of Tourism & Hotel Management (COTHM). Held at the prestigious Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, Lahore, the event marked a significant milestone in Pakistan’s culinary landscape, endorsed by none other than Worldchefs, Paris.

The four-day culinary championship, inaugurated on February 13, 2024, showcased the prowess of more than 50 international chefs from over 10 countries, alongside around 1300 local culinary maestros competing across various categories. The PICC 2024 served as a platform not only for fierce competition but also for cultural exchange and culinary innovation.

Distinguished guests graced the occasion, including renowned motivational speaker and Qasim Ali Shah Foundation Chairperson Qasim Ali Shah, Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) Chairman Dr. Nazir Niazi, Punjab Prisons IG Mian Farooq Nazir; Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) President Kashif Anwar, esteemed cartoonist Javed Iqbal, Cheezious CEO Imran Ijaz, Cheezious MD Adnan Ijaz, Punjab Tourism Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar, Welfare & Bait ul Mal DG Mudassar Riaz Malik, TEVTA Chairman, Brig. Retd. Muhammad Sajid Khokhar, PIAF Chairperson Fahim ur Rehman Saigol, Higher and School Education Minister Mansoor Qadir, Royal Thai Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Kamolwan Sriposil, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Aftab ur Rehman Rana, renowned businessman Azhar Pasha, TEVTA COO Qurat ul Ain Memon, University of the Punjab Prof. Dr. Kahlid Mahmood, Unilever Food Solutions Marketing Lead Umer Waqar, UFS Marketing Manager Hafsa Asif, KnN’s Syed Mughees A. Pirzada, Shan Foods Food Services Marketing Manager Maria Qureshi, Shangrila Shahbaz Ali, Young’s Food Sales Chef Muhammad Safeer, Blue Band Professional Business Head Dawood Mustafa Ghazali, AMPCO Group Business Head Zeeshan Haider, Puratos/Belcolade Business Head Rana Musharraf, Shafaq Oil Assistant Brand Manager Shoaib Sheikh, and College of Earth & Environmental Sciences Principal Dr. Sajid Rasheed. The esteemed guests were warmly welcomed by CAP President & COTHM Founder/President & CEO Ahmad Shafiq, COTHM COO Zaheer Ahmad, COTHM Joher Town Executive Director Mian Shahid Mehmood, and Chefs Association of Pakistan Vice President (Corporate Affairs) Chef Waqar Ilyas along with other team members.

The event commenced with a vibrant balloons releasing ceremony followed by the captivating Nations Parade, allowing guests a firsthand experience of the culinary diversity on display. Throughout the event, attendees were treated to live cooking stations, adding an interactive dimension to the festivities.

In his addresses on all the four days, COTHM CEO Ahmad Shafiq provided insights into the championship’s significance and scope, setting the stage for an exhilarating journey ahead. He also announced Chefs Association of Pakistan’s (CAP) support to Chef Andy Cuthbert and Chef Uwe Micheel in the upcoming Worldchefs elections. Worldchefs Vice President Chef Uwe Micheel, on the behalf of the Worldchefs, Paris, expressed gratitude to the PICC administration in his address, acknowledging the efforts invested in making the event a resounding success.

Notably, Qasim Ali Shah commended CAP and COTHM for orchestrating a remarkable international culinary showcase, underscoring the event’s impact on promoting culinary arts and fostering cross-cultural connections. Chef Uwe Micheel, presided over the event as the head of the jury, ensuring the highest standards of judging were maintained.

Adding to the event’s prestige, the National Culinary Team of Pakistan (NCTP) Captain Chef Muhammad Raees served as the moderator during the competitions, facilitating seamless proceedings and fair adjudication.

The international judges who were a part of the PICC-2024’s jury panel were Chef Uwe Michael as Head of Jury from Germany, Chef Muhamamd Raees from US, Chef Manzoor Bulgari from UAE, Sevinj Mousavi from Iran, Abdulla Mohamed from Maldives, Fathima Umar from Maldives, Akbar Umarov from Uzbekistan, and Hadi Mekdashi from UAE. Chefs from Pakistan who were in the jury panel were Chef Waqar Ilyas, Chef Tauseef Butt, Chef Muhammad Shabir, Chef Muhammad Razzaq, Chef Tipu Imran, Chef Sadaqat Sohail, Chef Irshad Ali, Chef Usama Asghar, Chef Falak Goher, Chef Hassan Arshad, Chef Faiza Iqbal, Chef Muhammad Nawaz, Chef Muhammad Hassan, Chef Jahanzaib Babar, Chef Muqarab Ali, Chef Abdul Nawaz, Chef Sumaira Sameer, Chef Nayab Tariq, and Chef Nazia Shahid.

The PICC 2024 received immense support from its sponsors, with Unilever stepping in as the Title Sponsor, alongside Gold Partners Shan Food Specialists, K&N’s, and Cheezious. Shangrila Foods, Young’s Food, Blue Band Professional, Puratos, Shafaq Oil, and Ambassador Commercial Kitchen Equipment joined as Silver Sponsors, further bolstering the event’s success and impact.

At the closing ceremony of the event, chefs’ belts were awarded to the newly selected players of the National Culinary Team of Pakistan (NCTP). All the participants, medal holders and winners received their certificates, cash prizes and trophies at the end of the ceremony. All the esteemed sponsors also received their shields and souvenirs at the end of the event.