This is the story of a young man who, despite all odds, achieved a milestone which is quite rare in the history of achievements by the members of the immigrant community in Switzerland.
Hailing from Mandi Bahauddin, Saif Khan was a Pakistani political activist who sought refuge in Switzerland to protect his life but with an aim to not be seen as a refugee who people would pity. Therefore, he decided to assimilate into Swiss society and mastered the German language and acquired a degree from a reputable Swiss institution.
Unlike many other migrants who tend to take up typical professions, he studied to become a chef.
“After coming to Switzerland, I thought that the political situation in Pakistan would improve and I would return to my country, but after waiting for two years, my hope of returning died.”
While speaking with a local news channel, Saif said.
Saif decided to build a new life in Switzerland and began by learning the German language after contemplating the situation for a while. He also increased his interactions with Swiss people to better understand their culture and assimilate there.
“I became friends with my doctor at the Political Asylum Centre. He was a great help to me and we are friends to this day. After graduation, I wanted to start my own business so I sought a loan from the Swiss Bank and was successfully granted more than one million Swiss Frank credit (one million euros) to start a business of my choice.”
Said Saif.
Saif revealed that at present, he has a 10-member Swiss staff working at his restaurant, but he is the executive chef.
“I am the executive chef. This region is one of the richest places in the world, full of rich tourists. The business is going great,” he said.
Speaking about the menu he serves at his restaurant, Saif said that it mainly comprises Swiss cuisine, but there are a few Pakistani dishes too.
“Currently, we serve two Pakistani dishes at the restaurant but they had to be slightly modified, with fewer spices, in order to appeal to the local tastebuds.”
He said.
