Fouzia Nasir Ahmed – From Editing News to Adding Taste

The media industry in Pakistan is going through a lean patch at the moment; call it the government’s inefficiency, the rise of COVID-19, or the lack of foresight from media houses, everyone is to be blamed. Many journalists have lost their jobs and those who haven’t, have had their salaries slashed due to the ‘crisis’. While most of the journalists who are ‘safe’ are content that they have a job, and a stable income, there are a few who have used this ‘crisis’ to do what their heart desires. Senior journalist and Editor Fouzia Nasir Ahmed is one such lady, who has taken Covid-19 head-on, and handled the situation very ‘tastefully’.

Usually, journalists migrate from print to TV or digital format, but hardly from writing and editing newspaper articles to adding taste in our lives. While talking exclusively to News 360, Fouzia Nasir Ahmed said that launching Burger Mania wasn’t an easy decision, but it was her decision and that makes it the ideal one in the current circumstances.‘I had to either take a 360-degree turn or succumb to the situation which my colleagues are also facing at the moment but until things get better, one has got to do what has got to do.’ Fouzia said while talking about her business venture. ‘Had my friends and family not encouraged me five years back when I first attempted cooking delicious burgers at Karachi Eat Festival, I would have had to think twice about my next step.

But many who actually ate the burgers and loved them did advise that I should not waste my talent, and here I am, making full use of a talent that I knew I had but hadn’t utilized.’At the moment, Burger Mania is operational only in the evening because Fouzia Nasir Ahmed has to work to keep the ‘kitchen running’. They accept orders once she is back home, after which she and her helper begin preparing the burgers that are filling, delicious, and above all, fresh.

‘I take pride in the fact that we don’t go for stale or old patties; each and every patty we put in our buns is as fresh as fresh can be; and when you don’t add chemicals and stay organic, it automatically makes the thing taste better.’ Fouzia added when asked about the one thing she is proud of in her cooking process.However, the story doesn’t end here. The menu is also a treat for the eyes, especially those who know Fouzia’s background as an editor and a journalist. The menu is a ‘Cock and Bull Story’ to be precise because in ‘Chicks For You’, the Cock’s contribution is amazing whereas ‘Hearty Beef Burgers’ wouldn’t have been possible without the Bull. The ‘Chicken and Beef’ burgers are priced between Rs. 375 and Rs. 475, and if you had a burger recently in Karachi, you will know how less inexpensive these prices are!

According to Fouzia, the idea of such an affordable rate came to her from her vast experience of eating out with friends, the more expensive the burger, the less interested her friends were whenever they went out. ‘Not all my friends were excited when we suggested a burger place in Karachi because a) the prices are too high and b) they are not interested in high-priced deals that are there just to compete with the others.That’s why when we decided to set a price for Burger Mania, we wanted to keep it low so that anyone – from a student who has a test the other day to an executive who wants a quick dinner before a meeting – can afford it. And if you want the Fries, Cold Drink, and extra Cheese and/or Patty, it will cost you less than what it would cost you elsewhere.’

Currently, Fouzia’s kitchen is the Burger Mania headquarter but the Chef has big plans for the business. ‘Once Covid-19 is over, we plan to go aggressive in our marketing strategy so that people think of us too when they crave burgers. Karachi is known for its love for Fast Food and we would like to cash in on that, and make little strides towards our giant goal – giving good food to the good folks of this city.’ Fouzia concluded.