Art and craft of the north west


June 21, 2010

ISLAMABAD: A unique display of handcrafted products by women of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa titled “Reviving Livelihood through Handicrafts in Postconflict Areas” inaugurated here under the aegis of Heritage Foundation, UNESCO and UK Aid in collaboration with Lok Virsa.

Sitara Ayaz, minister for culture and social welfare, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was chief guest. The other prominent personalities present at the inaugural ceremony included H.E. Robert Kvile, Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Pakistan, Director UNESCO Dr.

Warren Mellor, CEO Heritage Foundation Yasmeen Lari and executive director Lok Virsa, Khalid Javaid. In his welcome speech, Chief Executive Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid congratulated UNESCO and other participating organisations for their on-going efforts to revive the dying craft heritage of Swat and livelihood of traditional practitioners, particularly craftswomen.

He assured them full cooperation for all such projects and activities.

He also acknowledged the cooperation of Royal Norwegian Government for promotion and projection of Pakistan’s traditional culture and folk heritage saying, “Most of Lok Virsa’s important programmes that were threatened to close due to financial constraints have been revived because of generous support extended by the Norwegian Government, for which we are indebted to the Norwegian Embassy at Islamabad.

UNESCO Director Dr. Warren Mellor and CEO Heritage Foundation Yasmeen Lari also spoke on the occasion and shed light on the salient features of the project. Speaking as chief guest, Provincial Minster Sitara Ayaz highly appreciated the role of the organisers for focusing on the craft heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with special reference to Swat valley.

“Our government is determined to take every possible step and to support any initiative that can lead to create better opportunities for the common masses, in particular womenfolk,” minister assured.

Talking informally about the role of Lok Virsa, the minister said, “It is a unique cultural body at the federal capital whose programme activities such as folk festivals directly serve to promote crafts people and perpetuate traditional skills.

This is my third visit to Lok Virsa to attend a cultural event and every time I am greatly impressed with the work done by this institution.” According to the organizers, the project “Reviving Women’s Livelihood in Swat” was initiated in mid February 2010.

Focusing on capacity building within neighbourhoods, 500 women have been trained in 12 Karavan Mini Craft Centres established in union councils of Islampura, Mingora, Barikot, Saidu Sharif, Charbagh and Landikus.

Around 327 women have been trained to make broidery products within their homes, 110 women in khaddi (looms) for home-based hand loom production and another 53 women for making handmade yarn. All 500 women have been provided tools and equipment including sewing machines, khaddis and charkhas, as well as toolkits that will enable them to produce quality products.

As part of the programme assistance greater outreach has been provided for the revival of one khaddi centre in Islampura, one vocational training centre in Odigram, a women’s sewing centre in Landikus and one pottery centre in Charbagh.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2010.

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