Peshawar: The City of Artisans and Its Timeless Crafts

Fakhar-e-Alam

Peshawar: In the heart of South Asia lies Peshawar, a city with a history spanning over 2,500 years. Known for its rich cultural and traditional values, Peshawar is an inimitable destination for domestic and foreign artisans, offering marvelous and eye-catching crafts designs.

Peshawar boasts a tapestry of different dynasties and civilizations, with its most vibrant aspect being the handicrafts introduced by local and foreign artisans from the pre-Greek, Mughal, and colonial eras.

Aptly named “Pesha War” or “the City of Artisans,” Peshawar continues to carry the legacy of craftsmanship passed down through generations. City bazaars like Misgran, Ratti Bazaar, Dabgari Gardens, and the legendary Qissa Khawani Bazaar still echo the past glory of artisans.

“Walking through these markets is like stepping back in time. The air is filled with the clinking of metal, the scent of wood and steel shavings, and the sight of meticulously crafted items,” said Bakhtzada Khan, a Senior Research Officer at the Archeology and Museums Department of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

He added, “The shops brimming with wood and metal cutlery capture the attention of visitors. Despite rapid technological advancements, these ancient bazaars maintain a steadfast appeal, especially among rural people from KP and Punjab provinces.”

Bakhtzada highlighted the discovery of human remains in the Soan Valley of Punjab as evidence of ancient stone-made cutlery and bone tools. “It was found that people began making clay and stone pots, crockery, and other related utensils during the Neolithic period, commonly known as the New Stone Age, dating back some 8,000 years.”

The wooden cutlery shops in Peshawar’s bazaars are a visual feast, displaying an array of handmade items such as wooden spoons, blenders, kneading plates, curd mixers, and bowls. These products, though presenting an old-fashioned look, possess a timeless quality and unique designs.

Qaiser Khan, a shopkeeper in Dabgari Bazaar, said, “Wooden cutlery is still alive in Peshawar. We have valuable customers for whom we specially produce these items. The majority of our customers are from KP and Punjab, while our cutlery is also preferred in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Central Asian Republics due to its durability and unique designs.”

However, Qaiser Khan complained about the lukewarm response from the urban population, who consider these products obsolete and outdated, having shifted to stainless steel cutlery and porcelain crockery.

Faraz Ali, another shopkeeper at Misgarn Bazaar, noted that the use of wooden cutlery had declined in recent decades and suggested that the KP government should take steps to preserve this asset. “Wooden utensils are mostly cheaper than stainless steel or aluminum. Moreover, many people think that meals cooked in clay pottery with the help of a wooden spoon taste better.”

From a hygiene perspective, wood cutlery and clay pots are not as harmful as those prepared using certain chemical components.

Dr Riaz Khan, Principal Medical Officer at Pabbi Hospital, stated, “Wood products are not harmful for domestic use. However, the mixing of some chemical ingredients in the preparation of utensils from different metals can affect human health.”

Although these ancient handicrafts are valuable assets, their existence is under threat due to societal transformation and modernization.

A recent study by educationists at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa universities revealed a complex relationship between the preference for modern industrial products and the decline of traditional indigenous crafts.

Factors contributing to this decline include a lack of infrastructure, shifting to other careers, lower production, and fading interest among younger generations. Significant challenges faced by workers in this profession are limited marketing opportunities and lack of recognition for their handmade work.

Experts recommend establishing accessible exhibition centers, promoting marketing strategies for artisans, and fostering entrepreneurship among illiterate men and women interested in handicrafts to revitalize and protect traditional handicrafts, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance the skills of artisans.

Emphasizing the importance of protecting traditional handicrafts from the impact of modern branding, these experts have also underlined the need for specific actions to aid in the revival of these crafts.

Meanwhile, Omair Khattak, General Manager of Investment at KP Tourism and Culture Authority, stated that the provincial government is making all-out efforts to preserve this valuable heritage and promote it within KP and beyond.

He mentioned organizing a three-day All Pakistan Art Festival in Islamabad by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), where handicrafts by local artisans were displayed.

The Pakistan Arts and Crafts Gallery, a provincial-owned center for the sale, marketing, exhibition, and promotion of handicrafts in Islamabad, has also been revived. Khattak assured continued interactions in the future to promote the skillfulness of local artisans and explore markets for selling their products.

As modernization gradually takes over ancient culture and craftsmanship, many experts have underlined the need to give this sector an “industrial status” and financially support artisans and craftsmen to promote this dwindling business.

Such initiatives would not only help preserve this heritage but also provide learning opportunities for local craftsmen and enable the export of these items, thereby earning valuable foreign exchange.