PESHAWAR: Around 400 shops owned by Afghan refugees have been closed down in Shinwari Plaza, Undhar Shehar Bazaar.

Anwar Ali, a local resident, told this scribe that 90 per cent shops owned and run by Afghan refugees had already been closed down while the remaining shopkeepers were planning to return to Afghanistan, fearing a possible crackdown by the authorities concerned.

He said that most Afghans refugees dealing in antiques and handicrafts had been concentrated in Undhar Shehar Bazaar since long. The shops contain old jewellery and embroidered dresses while a few have the copies of the 100 to 200 years old Holy Quran.

Locals say city losing another tourist’s charm with declining antiques, handicrafts business

There was already a slump in the market but the recent forced exodus of Afghans further aggravated the situation, a local resident said. He said that many locals were of the opinion that with dwindling business of antiques and handicrafts, the historic city of Peshawar was fast losing another tourist’s charm.

Wali Jan Agha, an Afghan dealer, said that few years ago, Peshawar used to be the centre of antiques and handicrafts because the foreign visitors thronged the historic city. He said that large number of Afghan traders had invested their money in the antiques business but the recent deep slump in the market forced many to quit the once thriving and lucrative business.

“Many Afghan traders have closed down their business fearing possible crackdown by the authorities while a few are expected to resume their business after getting proper stay documents,” said Mr Agha.

He said that out of around 800 shops, more than 600 belonged to Afghan refugees. Out of those 600 shops, 400 had been closed down while owners of others had planned to wind up their business in near future, he added.

“Few Afghan dealers may come back to resume their business after getting valid travelling documents from their country while 50 per cent Afghan owners are determined not reopen their shops in the wake of deep slump in the market as no foreign or local buyer visit the outlets,” said Anwar Ali.

Out of dozens of antiques and handicrafts shops in Qissa Khawani Bazaar, only two or three still can be found selling utensils made of brass and copper. In Peshawar Saddar, a lone shop dealing in antiques and handicrafts exists with a few visitors to show up.

Ayaz Khan, a salesman at the said shop, told this scribe that there were 15 to 20 antiques shops in Saddar bazaar when he had joined the business some 20 years ago. He said that gradually those shops reduced to a few over the past one and a half decades. He added that his was the lone shop set up 40 years ago.

“Not a single foreign visitor has showed up in years. Local visitors from 12 to 15 visit our shop daily but a few are interested in buying antiques. The rest are just window-shoppers,” said Mr Khan,

He said that he had housed about 500 different items in his shop including old utensils, warfare, old jewellery, embroidered dresses. He said that price of antique items was varying depending on age, stuff and built.

“Antique from price tag Rs150,000 to Rs50, 00 is available while a handicraft carries price tag from Rs100 to Rs10,000. Items made up of brass, copper and German silver are available at my shop,” he added.

Mr Khan said that even local residents had lost their interest in such things. He said that experts earlier used to make brass and copper items had then laid their hands on other professions because of the poor market of handicrafts. He said that antiques and handicrafts used to be one among many other things that attracted foreign tourists but the unfortunate city lost that treasure too to militancy, law and order and philistinism.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2016