CHARSADDA, Aug 6: The traditional Charsadda chappals are being sold like a hot cake ahead of Eidul Fitr as scores of clients from across the country have thronged the local market to place orders for the latest brand and variety of the footwear.

During a visit to the local market, most of the shoemakers told this scribe that they refused to accept fresh orders owing to their busy schedule and prolonged power outages.

Mohammad Nazir, a shoemaker, who was busy at his workplace along with the his helpers, said that scores of shoe sellers, customers, bureaucrats and even parliamentarians visited their shops to place orders for the traditional chappals.

He said that on special occasions like Eid demand for Charsadda chappal increased manifold. “On such occasions, the shoemakers hesitate to accept more orders due to shortage of time and power loadshedding,” he added.

The popularity of Charsadda chappal can be gauged from the fact that in each big and small city of Pakistan signboards of Charsadda Chappal can be seen at some shops.

The dealers and sellers of footwear have established their businesses even in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad, Faisalabad and Abbottabad etc. Apart from Pakistan, Charsadda chappals are popular in Middle East and Gulf States.

Khalid Khan, the owner of a chappal store, told Dawn that all their products were made manually and on order keeping in view the requirement of clients. He said that material used in making of Charsadda chappal varied from hard leather to soft suede.

Haji Abdul Ghafoor, the owner of shoe market, said that bureaucrats and parliamentarians placed orders with them ahead of Eid to gift. They also gifted Charsadda chappal to their friends, relatives and high-ups, he added. People also sent the traditional footwear to their relatives in Middle East as a gift.

“Some four years ago, a container loaded with a variety of Charsadda chappals and slippers was sent to Saudi Arabia owing to increasing demand of the footwear there,” he added.

Historians say that business of chappal making had been popular in this region since the arrival of Alexander. However, use of khussa (locally called panrhay) was common till 19th century in Charsadda, they added.

The elders and friends from the neighbourhood used to gather at hujras (male guest houses) for gossip where they got khussa-making training.

Before partition, India was famous for chappal making, but later during the first two decades of 20th century Hassan Gul Ustad, Mama Ustad, Tamash Ustad, Shehzad Mir Ustad and others gave modern touch to this art in Charsadda that slowly and gradually turned into an industry.

Today Charsadda chappal has become an industry which has given identity to artisans and experts of this region.

Maqsood Khan, president of Charsadda Chappal Makers Association, said that presently about 800 units of chappal-making were functional in Charsadda. He said that about 8,000 workers were linked to the industry to earn their livelihood.

According to rough estimates, about 8,000 shoe pairs were being made daily in those units, he said. He added that different varieties of footwear were available in Charsadda, however, single gear, double and triple gear, broad shape, narrow shape, T-shape, panjidar, slipper and sandal were the most popular among the consumers.

Mohammad Jamil, owner of a shop, said that quality leather called chrome, famous for its natural shine, was used in the footwear. He said that owing to its quality, Charsadda chappals were famous throughout the country.

Keeping in view the expertise of Charsadda chappal-makers, the government established Footwear Training Institute in the region under the management of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce and Charsadda Chappal Makers Association in 2003.

However, till date the training courses are being held in a rented house as building of the institute is yet to be built even after passing of 10 years. A 32-kanal piece of land had been acquired for the purpose with the cooperation of Export Promotion Bureau in Charsadda. So far 516 male and 200 female workers had got training in this institute and they are now working in shoemaking factories in Karachi, Lahore and other cities.

Despite multiple problems and issues, the shoemakers run the business in proper way.

Maqsood Khan said that prices of raw material for chappal-making were very high.

He said that although leather was produced in Fata, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan yet its factories were established in Punjab and they got it at a high rate.

He said that leather factories should be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to make raw material available on cheaper rate to shoemakers. He said that it would also create job opportunities.

Maqsood Khan also demanded loans on easy installments for shoemakers in the region to boost the business. He said that manufacturing of hand bags, jackets and other products might be enhanced with the establishment of factories in the province.

He said that people linked with the business should be sent abroad to participate in international expos.

Maqsood Khan urged the provincial government to organise events to boost the business of traditional chappal and khadar. “If Sindh can celebrate Sindhi Ajrak (shawl) and Topi (cap) day why our government not organise such events,” he questioned.