The glimpses of rural folk and traditional heritage four provinces including remote parts of the country have mesmerized visitors with their craftsmanship at Lok Virsa here on Friday.
The on-going Pakistan Week, organized at Lok Virsa at Shakarparian has provided a colourful and fascinating opportunity to the residents of the federal capital for seven consecutive days.
Besides other attractions, exhibition on cultural heritage is a major feature of the Pakistan week celebrations.
Over hundred master artisans are seen actively demonstrating their works in artistically designed cultural pavilions, putting their creativity in arts, crafts and innovation.
The crafts on display are embroidery (including Multani, Bahawalpuri, Hazara, Swat, Balochi & Sindhi embroidery) block printing, lacquer work, Khussa making, pottery, tie and dye, doll making, khaddar weaving, truck art, wood carving, wood work, papier mache, namda & gabba, metal work, Shawl weaving, zari work, motikari, traditional carpets, blue pottery, Ajrak, wax printing, stone work, wooden spoon making, pattu weaving and many others.
Both male and female practitioners were afforded an equal opportunity to showcase their talent and get due recognition.
The most prominent among them are Rehana Anees in Sindhi embroidery, Fahmida Malik, Munaza and Musarart in Punjabi embroidery, Fouzia Naheed in doll making, Ambreen in traditional toys, Sadaf Aziz in Motikari, Anam Nawaz in Multani Tanka, Tasleem Bibi in Hazara Phulkari, Sultana and Haji Bibi in Hunza embroidery.
These female artisans stand out not only for their excellence but also propagate their ancient arts by imparting it to the future generations.
Male artisans are also equally good in showing their art work. Zulfiqar Ghazi specializes in the famous Kashmiri art of “papier mache”.
Haji Habib ur Rehman from Punjab is the master artisan in truck art. While Deedar Ali in “patti” weaving (woven strip made from sheep wool) from Gilgit Baltistan is also at work, demonstrating his workmanship.
Talking to this scribe, Lok Virsa’s executive director Khalid Javaid said “Pakistan with its rich and varied heritage has a craft tradition of more than 9,000 years dating back to the Mehergarh civilization in Balochistan, when reveals the earliest evidence for pottery production”.
He said, the Indus Valley civilization of Mohenjodaro in Sindh and Harappa civilization in Punjab (5,000 B.C.) indicates impressions of woven cloth production from cotton and wool.
The dominant historical influence still to be seen in the form, design and colour of Pakistani handicrafts is essentially Islamic, a fusion of Turkish, Arab, Persian and the indigenous Mughal traditions,” he added.
He further highlighted that Pakistan is known for some of the most varied and beautiful handicrafts of the world. Whether it is the elaborate dress of a bride or a simple household utensil, it is designed and created so artistically that it becomes an object of art.
The different regions, towns and cities specialize in their own particular handicrafts.
This is why there is so much diversity and variety in the crafts of the country, he maintained. The Pakistan Week celebrations will continue till Jan 7 at Lok Virsa complex, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian daily from 11am to 6pm.
