Punjab is carelessly divided into South Punjab and North Punjab (Upper Punjab). South Punjab comprises three divisions: Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Bahawalpur. According to the 2023 Census, the total population of Punjab is 127,688,922, with 40,377,576 individuals residing in these three divisions.
This accounts for more than 30% of Punjab’s total population. Most of these individuals are involved in the agriculture sector in one way or another for their livelihood. The source of income shapes the outlook of a society.
If it is atavistic in nature, then the outlook is likely to be underdeveloped. The source of income even influences the culture and traditions of a society. For example, cuisines often reflect the creativity and resourcefulness of a community.
In Southern Punjab, no cuisine is as popular as Paye (Lahore), Chirray (Gujranwala), Nehari, Haleem, and Biryani (Karachi). This suggests that regions where people’s income sources are more diverse than agriculture have a variety of cuisines. Consequently, the low-income segment of society in South Punjab is largely unaware of different tastes and culinary varieties.
Let me take you through my birthplace, Shujabad, a tehsil of Multan, which has no famous, popular, or traditional cuisine except Sohan Halwa and Mangoes. These are a dessert and a fruit, respectively. If there is something, it mainly involves vegetables, nothing more.
My people are not familiar with a variety of Bar B Q, Karahis, Qorma, Handis, or Rice R.