‘Promotion of Handicrafts Can Help Alleviate Abject Poverty’

Nabila Hafiz

Islamabad: Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq on Thursday said that the promotion of handicrafts can help alleviate abject poverty and earn badly needed foreign exchange for the country.

Chairing a seminar organized by Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) to celebrate “World Handicrafts Day”, the CEO said artisans should be encouraged by offering plenty of opportunities and financial support to display their art and products in exhibitions for effective and result-oriented marketing. Creativity has no boundaries and the handicrafts sector plays a significant role in the economy: PFC CEO Mian Kashif

He said Pakistan comes at the bottom of the list of developing countries with annual handicrafts exports of $300 million only.

Mian Kashif said art and creativity have no boundaries and the handicrafts sector plays a significant role in the economy which also provides employment to vast segments in rural and semi-urban areas besides preserving its rich culture.

He said it represents the culture and traditions of any country or region which is also a substantial medium to preserve traditional art, skills, culture and heritage which are associated with people’s lifestyle and history.

The businessman said that PSIC should come forward with a clear road map for fully exploiting the talents of youth for the promotion of dying inherited handicraft skills. This small industry boost can also provide employment to vast segments in rural and semi-urban areas

PSIC Director Ali Raza Tarar said PSIC always, like other parts of the world, celebrates World Handicrafts day. He said Pakistan is a country representing an old Indus civilization with a rich history of handicrafts including wooden furniture, metal, marble, hand-made embroidered clothes and ceramics.

Tarar said PSIC is playing a key role in the promotion of handicrafts and the artisans of the province through its handicrafts development centers. He said PSIC is imparting training in design and capacity building of artisans according to the cultural trends with interest-free loans and assistance to flourish this small-scale industry.