Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: To have no cultural and traditional background to your memories is equal to having no education. Cultural traditions are important because they transmit shared values, stories and goals from one generation to the next and encourage groups of people to create and share a collective identity, which in turn serves to shape individual identities. TheHashoo Foundation (HF) with financial assistance of the Center for Cultureand Development of Denmark (CKU) concluded the project, “Harnessing Indigenous Cultures for Economic Empowerment of Artisans and Sectarian Harmony in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral”. Theproject completion ceremony was organized at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA). The event opened with a musical performance by traditional band who had especially come fromGilgit-Baltistan, to pay tribute to the people whose lives were lost in the tragic air crash of PK661 on 17thDecember 2016. The project was aimed at reviving indigenous cultures of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral to economically empower its local artisans and to promote the social and sectarian harmony in the region. A total of 22 festivals were organized thatreceived overwhelming appreciation from communities as most of the festivals had been obsolete,mentioned the Project Officer, Amjad Khan, while sharing the project achievements.He also informed that 350 local artisans received training in stone carving, wood carving and in traditional music. The artisans also learned techniques for creating value chain and enterprise for sustainable economic empowerment. As a result of these trainings several business groups have been formed in the region to further promote the value chain of local products and services.