New loans: K-P govt moves to support artisans

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has launched an employment scheme to encourage traditional artisans. The scheme is aimed at keeping the traditional art alive and utilising the potential of local artisans. Culture Department officials said that artisans belonging to professions of brass work, copper work, wood carving, pottery making, footwear, straw work, metal work, khaddar (locally-produced fabric) and embroidery will be able to acquire interest free loans ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs70,000 from Bank of Khyber. Initially, the scheme would be offered to artisans belonging to Nowshera, Peshawar and Charsadda districts and later extended to other districts of the province. The loans to female artisans are a part of women empowerment initiatives taken by the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.