Qeema Tikki Vendor قىمہ ٹكى والا

Making Qeema Tikki's

Khalid dropping a Qeema Tikki in hot oil

 Khalid has been making Qeema tikki's, Kachori's and halwa puri in Lahore for the past 45 years. He started when his daily wage was 25 paisas and a puri cost 1 paisa (1 Rupee = 100 Paisa's and 1$ = approximately 85 Rupees). Today he works for a roadside shop which pays him Rs. 500/-per day and he makes around Rs. 15,000/- per month. Khalid works 7 days a week and hardly ever takes a day off. For him Sunday is the busiest as he starts preparing for his sale at 1:00 AM in the morning and keeps on selling till the evening. He also makes food for wedding functions when required. Khalid never married and is taking care of his parents. 

Qeema Tikki is made of mince meat mixture filled in dough made of flour and oil and is deep fried. A Kachori is a smaller version of a Qeema Tikki. Halwa Puri comprises of three things: puri which is flour oil and salt dough rolled out to make small circles and then deep fried, chickpea and potato curry and sweet dish made of semolina (suji). Sunday is the busiest day for such vendors as most of the people wake up early in the morning and either bring such breakfast at home or go out to eat.