Across Islamabad, a quiet but powerful movement is taking shape as women transform their homes into thriving culinary businesses. With living rooms doubling as kitchens and WhatsApp groups serving as digital menus, skilled women from all walks of life are finding new ways to balance family, ambition, and financial independence.
These home chefs are not just cooking meals—they are carving out a space for themselves in the city’s food scene. From former engineers to certified culinary experts, many have turned their passion for cooking into successful home-based food delivery services.
One such example is Faiza Shakeel, a former software engineer who started “Faiza Foodie” after leaving her job to raise her children. What began as a small Facebook page offering homemade meals has now grown into a full-fledged business, with a menu featuring Desi classics, Chinese dishes, baked treats, and frozen snacks for busy families.
Faiza says that being a full-time mom was always her priority, but the opportunity to earn extra income and find fulfillment through her love for cooking has been a welcome surprise.
Her story is echoed by others like Anam Azam, a chef with a government diploma in cooking and baking. Anam has been running her home delivery service for two years, building a loyal customer base with her consistent quality and flavour. She initially partnered with a national food delivery platform but found the high fees unsustainable, choosing instead to operate independently.
Anam also highlights the need for better government support for women-led home businesses, suggesting that reduced taxes and simpler registration processes could help more women succeed.
Customers, too, are embracing this trend. Many appreciate the personal touch and care that home chefs bring to their food, as well as the chance to support women entrepreneurs. Social media has played a key role in helping these businesses grow, allowing chefs to market their offerings, receive feedback, and build strong communities—all from their smartphones.
As more women like Faiza and Anam find success, the future looks bright for Islamabad’s home-based culinary entrepreneurs.
Some even dream of opening studio kitchens or mentorship programs to help other women turn their passion for cooking into a powerful source of confidence and independence. In Islamabad, the recipe for success is being rewritten—one home-cooked meal at a time.
The same is going on in Karachi but numbers are so huge. thousands of women are running their own kitchen. Mostly started during covid and after covid.