In the early days of Pakistan, we did not have the luxury of Sui gas. I still remember my mother cooking on coals and wood which were burnt in iron stoves and gave off a lot of smoke in the confinements of rather small kitchens as in those days fashionable kitchens with latest gadgets and wide open spaces with shelves housing all known spices and condiments were rare if not totally unavailable.

A familiar sight in all neighbourhoods were the coal and wood suppliers, popularly known as “Taal” and dispensing wood and coal as desired by their customers. These “Taals” did a roaring business as what they were dispensing was much in demand, mainly due to the fact that in most households food was cooked twice a day.

Yes, traditionally lunch was cooked in the early hours of the morning and then dinner which was cooked later in the evening. Fresh food twice a day was common and obviously led to greater use of wood and coal. Such regular and indiscriminate use of wood and coal that gave out at times large bursts........

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