ISLAMABAD: The handicraft industry has enormous potential to improve women’s socio-economic empowerment through exports, but the quality of craftsmanship has deteriorated over time due to lack of cutting-edge technology.
Maryyam Qasim Khan, Chairperson of the Handicrafts Association of Pakistan (HAP), said while talking to WealthPK that the export of handicrafts empowers the human capital associated with it. She said Pakistani handicrafts are famous for their uniqueness, variety, and quality standards, and that’s why they have established a mark within and outside the country.
She said the handicraft industry mainly comprises small-scale entrepreneurs, artisans, manufacturers, and producers with a major proportion of proletariat women’s involvement. Therefore, she said, efforts are being made to provide complete handholding to the endowed. She said the underprivileged women of Pakistan are provided with a direct market linkage to multi-label retail stores under the brand name of “HAP Store”.
Maryyam said handicrafts in Pakistan are diverse. She said every country has its own handicraft specialty which includes carving, embroidery, fabric, and jewellery. She added that each colour, style, and design, with a unique symbol, portrays the culture of a particular area based on people’s indigenous skills. She said Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and HAP collaborate on the promotion of handicrafts by developing, protecting, and encouraging handicraft-making in Pakistan with the prime focus on converting the informal handicraft sectors into a formal industry.
“Pakistani handicrafts are in high demand in Europe and China, and we have taken the first step towards promoting this sector by empowering women through providing them market access,” the HAP chairperson said.
Zehra Shallwani, CEO of Dastan Tours and an activist who promotes handicrafts in Pakistan, told WealthPK that the quality of craftsmanship has deteriorated over time due to lack of cutting-edge technology.
“Handicrafts promotion addresses several social problems by preserving culture and providing a source of income for women,” she said.
Zehra said this industry is in desperate need of development and promotion in order to revitalize Pakistani culture and ecotourism. She added that the tourists who visit northern areas of Pakistan like to buy Gilgit handicrafts which help the natives to earn livelihood.
Zehra said production of handicrafts must be carried out in a systematic and cost-effective manner to increase demand both locally and internationally. She said the coronavirus pandemic had a negative impact on the handicraft industry as most workers in this sector shifted to urban areas in search of work to support their families.
She said the majority of women working in this industry are uneducated and unable to learn any language other than their native tongue. “Proper training should be provided to women in handicraft sector to create their awareness about the use of latest machinery and technology. The government should also provide interest-free loans for them to purchase latest machinery,” she said.
According to Ahmed Ahsan, Assistant Director at TDAP, adopting latest technology and innovation in the handicraft sector will increase exports and allow families working in the sector to earn handsomely.
“Growth in the handicraft sector contributes to economic growth by creating job opportunities for the unemployed,” he said.
