Artisans should be encouraged by offering opportunities and financial support to display their art and products in exhibitions.
Pakistan comes at the bottom of the list of developing countries with an annual handicrafts export of around USD 255 million.
India records more than USD 3000 million for the same tenure.
This obvious gap is apparently unbridgeable under the effect of contemporary fragile policies of the relevant institutions.
It looks like an unattended economic area for the past several years. Pakistani handicraft manufacturers and exporters have repeatedly reported an exponential decline in the overall trade volume of the industry.
Pakistan’s artisan economy is troubled because of non-legislation for production and marketing handicraft products; nonexistent international networking assistance; lack of design and skill enhancement facilities and the absence of credit facilities from banks and development financial institutions.
These reasons pose no obstacle in the case of progressed countries.
Belgium exported crafts worth USD 21.89 billion in 2018. China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea are successfully managing a similar set of problems as their crafts industries are burgeoning.
Pakistan’s artisan economy is troubled because of non-legislation for production and marketing handicraft products; nonexistent international networking assistance; lack of design and skill enhancement facilities and the absence of credit facilities from banks and development financial institutions
Many other craft exporter countries have devised national acts and state councils of artisans. India has promulgated the Indian Arts and Crafts Act 1990. Pakistan has not yet formulated any direct and competent law in this regard. There is only one clause for handicrafts in both Punjab Small Industries Corporation Act 1973 and Bab-e-Pakistan Foundation Act 2014.
Nobody can become the devil’s advocate in undermining the economic importance of handicrafts. According to a statistical report by Inter-American Development Bank, “If the artisan industry, globally, were a country, it would already be equal to the fourth-largest economy in the world with the fourth-largest workforce and rank ninth in the value of exports.”
A developed handicrafts sector in Pakistan could guarantee a handsome contribution to GDP; investment opportunities; enhanced foreign exchange earnings; cultural preservation, entrepreneurial development, and alleviation of poverty.
Pakistan is bestowed with the artisans rich in texturing and elegant handicrafts that have a lucrative global demand. The only thing needed is to ensure that production is being done in a systematic and cost-effective way.
For instance, Balochistan is the major producer of salt items, leatherwork, sheepskin items, and mats.
Ajrak, Ralli, Sasi, Khadi and the ceramic work of Sindh reflect a serene picture of the skill of artisans. KPK is rich in traditional embroidery and copper work.
Multan and Bahawalpur regions are famous for the blue pottery, embroidery and camel-skin lamps; Peshawar Misgaran Bazaar is a historic market for brass and silver utensils. Chiniot wood-crafting could be evolved as a speciality for Middle Eastern and European markets. Swat and D.G Khan produce thread and mirror embroidery. Internationally commended hand-knotted carpets and rugs are the work of artisans of Lahore and Balochistan.
It is indispensable to channelize all the resources to the handicrafts production hubs like Southern Punjab, Karachi, Balochistan and most parts of KPK. According to a recent survey of Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there are 1140 craftsmen only in the small town of Sillanwali near Sargodha, but it could not get the legal status of the industry till date.
Most of the handicrafts exporters are based in Karachi and consequently, small-scale handicrafts in different regions are unable to get attention. The exporting hubs should be uniformly distributed at regional locations to promote and facilitate localised artisans. An effective way to achieve this milestone promptly is calling for well-researched proposals to design and implement a methodical plan for handicrafts.
Provincial governments should take the frontline position in promoting handicraft industry and related products. Artisans should be encouraged by offering opportunities and financial support to display their art and products in exhibitions. Handicraft should be taken as a priority industry in the country. The major institutions supposed to be at cutting-edge, by recognising and magnifying their efforts, are Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA), Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Pakistan, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA).
This is above board that pragmatic legislation, a regularized supply of high-quality inputs, creation of demand, and gruelling efforts of competent institutions have become a reasoned need of the hour. Banks and DFIs should extend small and medium-term loan facilities to the local production units. Corporate exhibitions and fairs can market handicrafts both at the domestic and global level.
Artisans should be registered in specific demographic regions. Detailed recommendations should be included in the Annual Development Program (ADP) Guidelines under scrupulous vigilance of the Planning and Development Department. Print and electronic media could also play their role in advertising and promoting artisans of Pakistan. Collectively, all these steps can prove a ladder to help the handicrafts industry of Pakistan climb up the international market, thus tumbling poverty of the masses.
The writer can be reached at waheedmba@yahoo.com