Rural South Punjab's homemade pickle heritage dies out

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jun, 2026) A once-thriving tradition of homemade pickle making in villages across South Punjab was fading rapidly as industrial production and changing household practices reshape food habits and rural livelihoods.

For decades,homes across the region were filled with the aroma of mustard oil and spices each mango season, as women prepared “achaar” with care, cutting raw mangoes,mixing spices such as kalonji,fenugreek and mustard seeds and sealing clay jars for sun-ripening.

Homemade pickle was once regarded as a mark of household pride with each family known for its distinct recipe and flavour.

Guests often requested jars of achaar as gifts after meals.

However,the practice was now in decline,particularly among younger women in rural areas, many of whom have not learned the traditional methods or prefer readily available commercial alternatives.

“Our grandmothers made pickle at home first.Then neighbors started paying for it.That small demand grew into a business,” said Fayyaz Ahmed,a shopkeeper in Burewala. “Factory production ended all that.”

The expansion of low-cost,mass-produced pickles by commercial manufacturers has further eroded the cottage-scale tradition, making it difficult for homemade products to compete in the market.

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As a result, women who once earned income from pickle making have lost a source of livelihood, while younger generations show little interest in learning the craft.

Farmers say the decline has also contributed to wastage of raw mangoes that fall during seasonal storms and remain not utilized.

“Those mangoes are perfect for pickle,”said farmer Malik Arif, adding that small-scale production could reduce post-harvest losses and provide income opportunities for rural women.

Stakeholders have called on the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to introduce training program for rural women in modern preparation techniques, hygienic packaging and branding to revive the cottage industry.

They also point to growing export potential for Pakistani homemade pickle in markets across the middle East,Europe and North America.

Experts warn that without institutional support, the inter-generational transfer of this culinary tradition may be permanently lost, turning a once-vibrant rural craft into a fading cultural memory.