Celebrity chef Zakir Qureshi known and loved by millions across Pakistan for his incredible cooking skills and TV shows has passed away. His nephew Abdulwali Shayan Qureshi confirmed that the chef breathed his last in Karachi around 7 PM on Monday night.
Chef Zakir had returned to Pakistan just 20 days ago from the United States where he had been living for the past five years. Unfortunately he had been struggling with kidney issues and was on dialysis in his final days. His funeral will be held today in the Saudabad area of Karachi after Asr prayers.
Chef Zakir started his professional journey in 1980 as an apprentice at the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi. He then worked in some of the world top restaurants and hotels in the UAE, Singapore, South Africa, the Caribbean and Botswana.
Chef Zakir made his TV debut in Pakistan in 2005 on Indus TV. He went on to host the popular show Zakir’s Kitchen on DawnNews and appeared on several other channels like ARY, Hum TV and Masala TV.
In 2014, he was a judge on MasterChef Pakistan which became the country’s first reality TV show to be nominated for an international 19th Asian Television Awards.
Zakir Qureshi was not just a television personality. He authored several cookbooks and even opened two restaurants in Karachi named Shaan-e-Mughlia in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Clifton Grill.
Chef Zakir will forever be remembered as a humble man who dedicated himself to the art of cooking and brought happiness into the many homes.
