Fostering skills: Arts and crafts exhibition kicks off

Event held to highlight local culture, give economic base to entrepreneurs.

PESHAWAR:

Arranged by the National Productivity Organization (NPO), the three-day long ‘Peshawar Arts and Culture Exhibition’ began at Palm Marquee Hall on Monday.

The hall was decorated with different traditional arts and crafts from various districts of Peshawar. There were 40 stalls exhibiting traditional clothes, jewellery, bags, metal and wooden utensils among other products. Folk singers also performed later in the evening.

“The exhibition is meant to highlight the arts and crafts of the region and to support local entrepreneurs by bringing their products to light. This would also encourage them to polish their skills,” said NPO’s regional chief, Ali Ahsan.

The event was supported by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI), Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Industries and the Peshawar Uplift Programme.

Prior to the exhibition, entrepreneurs were given basic training for five days at KPCCI to brief them about running small-scale businesses and how such ventures could support the economy.

The 20 men and 20 women who were part of the exhibition were selected from Peshawar on the basis of their previous work in jewellery and dress design, brass work and wax painting.

“These craft workers will be taken to Multan so that they can exhibit their products there as well,” said Ahsan, adding this will not only promote Pukhtun culture, but also serve as a strong base for the economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2014.