An exhibition of local handicraft was held in a local hotel on Sunday for promoting their skills, attract local and non-local customers, and linkage development to national and international market.
Master pieces of Khow and Kalash culture were displayed at different stalls. The exhibition was organised by Agha Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in collaboration with different local support organisations of Chitral.
A significant number of local people and foreign tourists visited the exhibition and showed their interest in the products.
Throughout Chitral, women make handicrafts and other domestic use items in their houses, most of them are handmade. Talking to our correspondent, some local women told that they make these items in houses with hands without any machine but they are not getting reasonable price for their products because they don’t have access to national and international market. They said if government and non-governmental organisations introduce these handicrafts in international market they would be able to get suitable price and it would have better economic effects in the area.
They complained about the worst roads infrastructure in Chitral and said if it was improved there would be easy access to international market or buyers/customers would themselves come to the area. Sweaters made of wool with hands are very popular and displayed at different stalls. Dry fruit, decoration pieces, stitched clothes in different designs and other daily use items attracted visitors.
Additional Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Ikram visited the stalls and highly hailed local women for displaying master pieces of handicrafts and decoration pieces. He also distributed certificates among the best stall-holders.
The objective of the exhibitions was to attract the attention of people towards local products and their access to international market that women at home make for their livelihood.
Gems stones and other decoration pieces made from precious stones were special items at the stalls.
