Business of blacksmiths, knife sharpeners shines in K-P ahead of Eid

People have set up stalls selling butcher goods, barbecue tools

PESHAWAR: The business of blacksmiths and knife sharpeners has registered upward boom in the provincial capital as they are receiving innumerable orders from people ahead of Eidul Azha celebrations.

As only one week left in Eidul Azha celebrations, the blacksmiths and knife sharpeners of Peshawar have received numerous orders earning twice as high this year.



Knife sharpeners and blacksmiths whether trained or untrained, are deemed a rare commodity these days in Peshawar due to innumerable orders despite they are getting despite a hike in charges for their services.

Seasonal entrepreneurs have set up stalls in Reti Bazar and around Firdaus Cinema sharpening knives, axes and meat cleavers with grinders and also selling barbeque equipment like coal stoves and skewers. Reti Bazaar on Jamrud Road is considered a hub for the sale of butcher tools.

Professional and seasonal knife sharpeners have also set up stalls in Gulbahar, Hastnagri, Karimpura, Cantonment areas, Tehkal, Latifabad, Ghareebabad and Hayatabad. The metal on sale is fetching twice as high rates than in usual days.

Many people are also seen getting their old and damaged machetes and daggers sharpened and repaired these days. Otherwise, apart from the sacrificial Eid, any one carrying a big knife openly is likely to get questioned.

A number of people come from smaller cities to Peshawar to make quick earings. “I came from Nowshera to Peshawar due to high profits here,” said Zardali Khan, a knife sharpener of Pabbi.

Waris Ali, a blacksmith in Firdus Market area said: “We wait for Eidul Azha throughout the year and plan ahead for the seasonal bulge in orders.”

Mukaram Ali, another blacksmith said that this year he has witnessed a very high sale due to massive response of people. He said he was saving about Rs3,000 per day. “Eidul Azha brings joys for people of our professions,” the beaming blacksmith said.



Ehtesham Khan, a stallholder, said these were the days they wait for all year round. “There are profits to be made,” he said brandishing a huge cleaver used for chopping the bones of bulls and buffaloes.

Misal Khan, an elderly man from Nowshera complained that blacksmiths and knives sharpeners were demanding too high prices for sacrificial tools, “and we are yet to be skinned by the butchers.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2017.