For Mohid Mehboob, representing Pakistan at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 was the culmination of a journey that began in competitive culinary education and progressed through successive levels of skills competitions.
A student of the College of Tourism & Hotel Management (COTHM), Mohid advanced from the Inter-School level to Inter-Province and then National-level competition, earning the opportunity to represent Pakistan in Cooking at the international skills competition in Shanghai. COTHM identifies him as Pakistan’s only representative in the Culinary Arts category at the event.
His journey reflects a structured progression in which practical skills, competition experience and continuous training became important parts of his professional development. The WorldSkills Pakistan framework follows a pathway from organisational-level competitions through national selection and advanced preparation before competitors represent Pakistan internationally.
For Mohid, the transition from training kitchens to an international competition environment meant applying culinary knowledge under demanding professional conditions. WorldSkills Shanghai brought together competitors from around the world across 64 skill competitions, creating an environment where technical ability, precision and professional standards were tested at an international level.
Ahead of the competition, Mohid undertook around six months of continuous preparation, including guidance from German experts, according to reporting by the Associated Press of Pakistan.
His participation also carried a cultural dimension. Mohid spoke about introducing international audiences to Pakistan through its distinctive spices and culinary traditions, including the use of garam masala in dishes such as karahi and biryani.
From classrooms and professional kitchens at COTHM to the global competition floor in Shanghai, Mohid Mehboob’s journey illustrates how structured skills development and competition experience can create pathways for young culinary professionals to enter international arenas.
