Exhibition of local handicrafts and Gem stones held at Chitral.
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
CHITRAL: To promote their skill, attract local non local customers and linkage development to national and international market Exhibition of local handicrafts held in a local hotel. Master piece of Kho and Kalash culture were displayed in different stalls. The exhibition was organized by Agha Khan Rural support Program (AKRSP) in collaboration with different Local Support Organizations of Chitral.
Throughout Chitral women make handicrafts and other domestic use items in their houses, most of themt are handmade. To introduce these handicrafts an exhibition was held in a local hotel in Chitral. Stalls of different handicrafts and other items representing Chitral’s culture were installed in the exhibition. Khow and Kalash cultures stalls got attention at large and appreciation of public. Men and women in the stalls have displayed handmade items and people were coming in large number to see these handicrafts.
Talking with our correspondent some local women told that they make these items in houses with hands without any machine use but they are not getting suitable price for it because they don’t have access to national and international market. They said if government and non-governmental organization introduce these handicrafts in international market they would be able to get suitable price and it would have better economic effect on the area.
They complained about the worst roads infrastructure in Chitral and said if it would be improved then there would be easy access to international market or buyers/customers their selves would come to the area. Sweaters made of wool with hands are very famous were also displayed in different stalls. Dry fruit, decoration pieces, stitched clothes in different designs and other daily use items attracted visitors in these stalls. A machine also got attention of the public which is used for fixing of pipes without the uses of nuts.
Additional assistant commissioner Muhammad Ikram visited the stalls who highly hiled local women for displaying master pieces of handicrafts and decoration pieces. Who distributed certificates among the best stalls holders. The objective of the exhibitions was to attract the attention of people in local products and its access to international market that women in houses earn with honor for their livelihood.
Gems stones and other decoration pieces made from precious stones were special items of the stall. Local people demanded for improvement in communication system and arranging such type of exhibition for promoting of local culture to enable women folk for earning their livelihood with a honor way.
Gul Hamaad Farooqi C/O Manager bank Islami Main branch Chitral Pakistan phone No (0092) 0943-320737, 0943-316052, 0943-414418 ,03205989602, 03025989602, 03337069572, 03159698446, 03469002167
email: gulhamad@gmail.com,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com, gulhamaad786@yahoo.co.uk,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com