PESHAWAR: The sale of famous Chitrali Patti handmade woolen items reaches its peak in chilly winter season in January. Local and non-local people swarm the shops in famous Chitrali Bazaar, located close to Qissa Khwani Bazaar, to buy handmade woolen products for protecting themselves from severe cold.

During the four-month season that starts from November, Chitrali Bazaar witnesses hustle and bustle of buyers of beautiful Chitrali Patti items.

“Four items – Chitrali Pakol, Chugha (embroidered robe), waistcoat and woolen coat – are still in great demand. Though prices have increased fourfold over the last four years, the picnickers and local people throng the bazaar for buying warm handmade items to protect themselves from biting cold and also to lend a different taste to their fabrics,” Qadir Nawaz, a resident of Chitral, told Dawn.

Mr Nawaz said that initially Chitrali artisans had set up only four shops, but now there were about 4,000 shops dealing in Chitrali Patti items.

He said that about 45,000 families were affiliated with the business.

He said that a young person could learn the skill of preparing such items in about two months and after mastering the skill he could earn between Rs600 and Rs1,500 a day.

Fardeen Wali, another dealer and a resident of Aweer village in Chitral, told this reporter that an embroidered robe could be bought for Rs10,000 to 15,000, while Chitrali coat could fetch Rs3,000 to 6,000 depending on the quality and artwork.

Products include Pakol, Chugha, waistcoat and woolen coat

Legend is that in the pre -partition era, there used to be bazaar-e- husn [red light area] where British officers and their families would enjoy music and dance and performances by local artists. When the freedom movement was launched, some local religious clerics forced the then British authorities to shut down the activities.

Baba Azeem, 80, a resident of Qissa Khwani Bazaar, said: “My father had told me that a group of extremists drove away local performers, set up four small mosques at four corners, and pressured the authorities to rename the place as ‘Islamabad’. Four mosques and its name Islamabad still exist in official documents.”

Most artisans and dealers are from upper Chitral district. According to Baba Azeem, they travelled down to Peshawar in late 40s and set up their businesses.

“In 50s, Chitrali Patti products attracted foreigners and its business flourished. People from far off places used to come to Peshawar to buy one or two Chitrali handmade items as gift for friends and relatives. Thus slowly and gradually, Islamabad turned into ‘Chitrali Bazaar’,” the octogenarian explained.

Sadiq Ameen, president of traders of Islamabad bazaar (Chitrali Bazaar), told Dawn that Chitrali handicrafts could get great boost if the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) enlisted Chitrali Patti.

“Due to excessive power outages, our artisans sit idle despite orders from potential buyers. Some prefer to work on manual sewing machines to meet the market demand and entertain orders of the customers from Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Islamabad,” Mr Ameen said.

“I have come from Karachi. I want to buy a Chitrali coat and Chugha (robe) for my friends in Germany.

I was in fear early this week to set out for Peshawar, but demand from my friends was irresistible. I bought both and would send them out. It is such a pretty piece; next time I would buy one for my father. I have placed order for a Chitrali coat. It will be ready by second week of February,” said Wasim Sajjad, a young businessman.

“Chitrali Patti is our cultural identity, we should preserve it anyway. It is the only bazaar in Pakistan which enjoys fame for cultural items of its people. In winter, it has almost become a fashion even among women in KP and elsewhere to wear Chitrali Chugha. With it our identity travels,” Abdul Samad, resident of Madak village of Chitral said proudly. He has been working in Chitrali Bazaar for the last 20 years.

Chitralis, he said, were hardworking and peaceful citizens. “Chitrali artisans are in need of interest-free loan. If facilities are given they could boost the business as a local handicraft industry. Afghanistan and tribal areas are our target markets where our items could be traded at a large-scale once peace is restored in our country,” he said.

Published in Dawn January 14th , 2015

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