KHAAS FOODZ HAPPENS
WHEN PASSION MEETS PURPOSE
By Syeda Nameera Hasan
By Syeda Nameera Hasan
Waking up to a world of darkness, courtesy of retinitis pigmentosa can be a life-shattering experience. The gradual loss of sight, our most vital sense, can leave even the strongest individuals reeling. However, rather than giving in to the restrictions of his disability, Ali Khan Tareen decided to carve out a new path, as he aimed not just to conquer his own struggles but also to open doors for others dealing with similar difficulties.
Ali’s passion for media and helping others began at an early age. As a homeschooler, he found solace in TV shows, inspired by anchors who gave him a sense of belonging. His interest in media eventually led him to study mass communication, where he honed his skills and began his career in marketing, radio, and journalism.
Ali Khan Tareen’s passion for marketing ignited a pioneering vision—to establish a startup that would revolutionize the lives of the visually impaired community. Determined to turn this vision into reality, Ali along with his sister Fizza, who too is visually impaired, co-founded Khaas Foodz.
Khaas Foodz started with a simple idea—what if a food venture could change lives? Ali Khan Tareen knew he wanted to build more than just a business; he wanted to build a platform with opportunities for visually impaired individuals. With this goal in mind, Ali took a leap of faith, and Khaas Foodz was born, a food venture that merges his passion for social entrepreneurship with a unique dining experience.
As the venture grew, Ali Khan Tareen introduced Dining in the Dark, a unique concept that offers diners a sightless experience of dining, allowing them to momentarily experience life as the visually impaired do. Although Dining in the Dark is a popular concept around the world, the power siblings behind Khaas Foodz introduced it to Pakistan.
In the heart of Khaas Foodz beats a compassionate mission, to shatter the shackles of limitation and empower the visually impaired community. Ali’s food venture is more than just a business – it’s a beacon of hope, a testament to the transformative power of inclusivity.
Through specialized training programs, Khaas Foodz unlocks the potential of visually impaired individuals, gifting them valuable skills and the confidence to soar. The venture doesn’t just stop at training; it provides a platform for these talented individuals to shine, employing visually impaired chefs and professionals who bring their unique perspectives to the culinary world under the supervision of Fizza, who infuses her culinary expertise into the venture.
Their dedication and vision took center stage on Shark Tank Pakistan where Ali and Fizza’s pitch was nothing short of impressive. They presented their innovative food venture, capturing the attention of all five sharks. Their perseverance, coupled with the compelling mission to empower the visually impaired, earned them a significant amount of PKR 5 million grant!
Ali emphasizes,
“We’ll use this grant to grow Khaas Foodz’s training programs, helping visually impaired people build the skills they need to become more independent, both financially and professionally.”
Ali’s bold move has become an inspiration for many to prove that no barrier is too great when you have the courage to follow your dreams.
Ali Tareen has been an active advocate for inclusivity and is passionate about increasing the representation of people with disabilities in the media. He shared a staggering statistic—34 million Pakistanis live with disabilities, yet they’re vastly underrepresented in our media. Ali’s dedication to changing this narrative is not just admirable; it’s a call to action for all of us in the industry.
Ali spoke with great pride as he praised MediaVerse for taking a groundbreaking step towards inclusivity by launching a Braille Edition of the magazine that opens doors for everyone, regardless of visual disabilities, to join the digital conversation. He mentions,
“I often stay connected with the publication of MediaVerse and their online platforms, proud of the positive change it’s creating.”
For Ali, the future of media is unmistakably intertwined with inclusivity. He firmly believes that the disabled community deserves a platform to express themselves and have representation, especially in today’s fast-paced digital world where voices can easily get lost.
Ali is more than a story of persistence; he is rather a story of vision and purpose. From creating opportunities as an entrepreneur to championing inclusivity in the media sphere, he has redefined adversity into opportunity. His commitment to empowering the visually impaired is a reminder that real change begins with one step. As Ali continues pushing boundaries, the journey stands to be an inspiration for all by proving that if one has enough determination, passion, and bold vision, then no dream remains out of his reach.
