K-P CM aide promises support to artists and artisans

Special Assistant to the K-P CM on Industries and Commerce Abdul Karim Khan on Monday stressed the need for access to the international market to boost provincial rich culture and art.

“This expo is a great opportunity for the tourists and families to know about the K-P’s scenic resorts, rich cultural heritage and unique handicrafts under one roof,” the CM’s aide said while opening the K-P Pavilion set up by the K-P Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) at the Lok Mela annual festival.

KPCTA Deputy Director Tourism Qaiser Khattak, Assistant Director Arbab Hassnain, Afrasiyab Khattak and others were also present on the occasion.

Karim said that artisans would be supported by giving them interest-free loans so they could promote their artwork at the international level. Such events promoted the cause of culture, traditions and encouraged the artistes and artisans as well, he added.

“There is no dearth of skilled manpower and artists in K-P and the government is taking tangible steps to facilitate them in their respective fields,” the CM’s aide said.

The KPCTA has established 29 stalls at the K-P Pavilion at the Lok Mela to showcase the cultural and traditional handicrafts and tourism potential to attract more tourists to the province.

Karim and other officials later took a round of stalls at the K-P Pavilion and appreciated the arrangements made for the artisans, tourists and visitors.

The K-P Pavilion attracted a large number of visitors including foreigners, who evinced a keen interest in the cultural and traditional handicrafts. Artisans from across the province, including Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur Swabi, Charsadda, Mansehra, Peshawar, Chitral and elsewhere have set up stalls that displayed the cultural and traditional handicrafts, dry fruits, food cuisines and music.

Traditional dances are performed and folk music with rabab mangay also be played to entertain visitors and tourists at the expo. A grand musical night would be held in which the artists from K-P would perform cultural and traditional music.

Many visitors turned up to the KP Pavilion that displayed handicrafts – including Swati Shawls, Kalash, Khadar, embroidery, Taghar work, Bannu Royal Khaadi, stone carving, Peshawari caps and chapal, wax painting, metalwork, wood carving, artwork, calligraphy, ring making, sitar making, Chitrali Patti, Gandhara Art, Drooza chappal, Sarghashay, Charsadda chappal, maizaray work, Karawa work, Sarkha, Dandas, Parunay, pottery work, Qehwa, blacksmith work, Hazara Jisti Shawl and Moti work and cultural items and jewellery made of copper and stone.

The KPCTA has also established a special desk to provide information about the cultural and tourism potential of the province through brochures, posters, booklets, video documentaries and pamphlets so that the families and visitors could obtain details regarding scenic attractions and cultural diversity.

The organisers said that establishing the K-P Pavilion at the expo was aimed at highlighting the tourist spots, cultural and traditional items to lure more visitors to the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2021.