The silence was broken when his face broke into a grin and he said in immaculate English, “Hi guys, welcome to the best pizza place in town, how can I help you?” We all burst into laughter and the tension vanished.

“Hey Adil, what are you doing here?” we all wanted to know. He claimed that he wanted extra spending money and this place paid well and had flexible working hours for a student like him. “All they need is someone who is friendly and can speak good English,” he explained as he placed a steaming pizza before us. “I work evenings so that my classes at University aren't affected.”

There are so many educated youngsters like Adil for whom the doors of earning have sprung open thanks to the multitude of international food franchises which have mushroomed over the country in the last two decades.

Ramla was a fresh graduate when she opted for a job as an Activities Manager at a fried chicken joint. “I did it because it gave me a high,” she says today, nearly a decade later when she's married and has two children. “A restaurant is a place where people come to feel good; they come with family and friends to hang out and have a good time. Being in such an atmosphere made me euphoric. All my colleagues were well-educated and professional and we enjoyed a lot of perks.”

Ramla says she and her group of bubbly colleagues enjoyed free food at lunch time. “If we didn't eat, we could get the money reimbursed. It was also part of my job description to go to the different eateries which were cropping up and give a report about the kind of food they were serving and the quality of service they provided. That, I believe was the best part of my job!” she finishes excitedly.

Her father however, was rather apprehensive about her working as what he labelled a 'waitress.' “He claimed that he hadn't made me study so long and hard just so I could 'wait tables',” she says with a grin. “He used to drop in at the branch I worked at and watch me. After a while I think he gave up, hoping that my job-hopping tendency would make me quit.”

Today, a lot of girls are working at fast food outlets, many with the approval of their families. Nida is a 20-year-old who works at a happening food joint known for its Portuguese chicken. Decked in a black T-shirt and skin hugging jeans, tossing her raven locks from her immaculately powdered face, no one would be able to guess that this young girl comes from a lower middle-class background and was teaching at a government school just a year ago. I pause through my meal to have a quick chat with her as the Sunday afternoon crowd has begun to trickle in. She revealed that she opted for this job as it paid better than her teaching venture.

Gul is her colleague and greets customers who come in “with a smile, whether she likes it or not” she says cheekily. This tall girl with a confident air has done her Intermediate. Gul claims family circumstances did not allow her to study further but she seems to have taken that in her stride and is enjoying her time at the restaurant. “The working atmosphere is good, my colleagues are all young and fun to be with! Our job hours are also flexible! We can work from 1 to 7pm or any other time slot will also do. Changing and exchanging shifts is also easy so we don't mind doing over-time if required!” She admits that she hopes that she can save up enough from her job to continue her education.

She shares that the only problem she faces are nasty or lecherous customers. “I guess it is the male mentality to assume that if a girl is serving at a restaurant it is their right to ogle her or make unnecessary conversation with her. However, I have learnt not to get annoyed or flare up and try to handle such situations calmly. After all, it is part of my job to take their orders and make sure they have a pleasant time at my restaurant.”

However, the integrity of the managers, who captain these outlets, plays a very important role here. A strong-willed, principled manager will tolerate no uproars or misdemeanours. “I want to ensure that the ambiance of my branch is happy and that can only happen if my servers are comfortable and at ease, states one manager. He shares that romance blossoms occasionally just as it would when men and women work or study together, but then that's natural.

There is also a chicken franchise which has taken up the heartening task of employing physically challenged staff with the intention of improving the quality of life of such employees and boosting their confidence and self-esteem.

Pakistanis relish eating and welcome with open arms and growling tummies any new restaurant. Thus, the emergence and mushrooming of these fast food outlets has given not only a more colourful variety to our palettes but has also lent dignity to what was previously seen as a labour-class profession.