Waiting for return of Chitrali bazaar's golden years

Till a decade in the past, the bazaar was ceaselessly visited by individuals from all over the world and the shopkeepers have been promoting woolen coats, waistcoats, Chitrali Chugha (embroidered gown) and shawls. Militancy has dealt a essential blow to enterprise within the space. Chitrali Bazaar serves as a hotspot for people who find themselves keen to purchase heat garments. The sale of Chitrali Patti and handmade woolen gadgets reaches its peak throughout winter. Individuals throng to the outlets to purchase handmade woolen merchandise to guard themselves from the chilly. A superb omen Chatting with Nazeer Khosa, Anjuman-e-Tajaran Chairman Abdur Razaq stated, “Winter is simply not far away and the shopkeepers are already incomes income and doing nice enterprise as regulation and order state of affairs has improved significantly.” He added the state of affairs is now much better than earlier than and there’s a big demand for heat garments from Punjab, Balochistan and Afghanistan. Razaq stated hundreds of shopkeepers, staff and artisans hail from Chitral district and work day and night time to promote gadgets of worldwide requirements. “Prior to now, the merchandise was primarily product of wool from Chitral,” he stated. “Nevertheless, as new types of merchandise can be found out there like China material, shopkeepers favor shopping for these at low cost charges principally from Lahore, which is understood for producing high-quality material.” Low cost and worthy Numerous shopkeepers claimed good high quality material was often handmade by Chitrali ladies prior to now. The fabric was long-lasting and a bit costly. Nevertheless, nowadays a lot of the material is imported from China and is comparatively low cost. “The well-known Chitrali Patti is made out of the identical material, together with wool, polyester and cotton. The Chitrali Pakol, which the locals name as Kapol, prices round Rs800 to Rs2,000,” they stated. One other shopkeeper added, “Kot is product of unique Chitrali Patti and is obtainable for Rs5,000 to Rs6,000, Lahori Patti at Rs3,000 and materials from China can value Rs2,000.” Indicators of neglect “Enterprise and exports to Afghanistan and Central Asia have been affected by the deteriorating regulation and order state of affairs in Fata and elements of Okay-P,” Razzaq, a businessman, advised Nazeer Khosa. “The tragic assault on Military Public Faculty in Peshawar final December introduced enterprise to a standstill. Every dealer in Chitrali Bazaar earns greater than Rs50,000 day by day which helps the financial system develop. Nevertheless, the federal government has not taken any measures for the welfare of the shopkeepers and has as an alternative imposed heavy taxes on us.” Concerning the bazaar’s historical past, Razzaq stated, “Earlier than Partition, there was a Bazaar-e-Husn on the website of Chitrali Bazaar. This was the place locals, in addition to foreigners, got here to take pleasure in performances by dancers and musicians.” Later, some locals and clerics began a motion to close down the bazaar and ultimately succeeded. After it was closed, native elders constructed 4 small mosques at every nook and voiced the will to rename the market ‘Islamabad’. Sadiq Ameen, former chairman of Anjuman-e-Tajran Chitrali Bazaar stated, that he has witnessed the golden period of Chitrali Bazaar when overseas vacationers used to go to with none worry. He hoped the golden period returns and Chitrali Bazaar rises to the highest as soon as once more.–Express Tribune]]>