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    Daachi x Karachi 2020

    Written by: Hamad Ali
    Posted on: February 18, 2020 | | 中文

    (L) Furniture Displayed at Daachi (photo credits to the writer) and A Swat Art Gallery Closet (photo credits to Daachi) (R)

    From the Naqshi work boxes of Dera, to the hand painted ceramics of Hala, from sustainable tote bags made of waste denim, to Karachi-based designer furniture, Daachi Festival was a juxtaposed amalgam of tradition meeting fashion-forward chic in its latest iteration. Hailing all the way from Lahore, it was a first time that Daachi Foundation came to Karachi with its iconic biannual exhibits on 15th and 16th February at Karachi Expo Center.

    Naqshi Boxes (photo credits to Daachi)

    Daachi's objective is to guard and promote our cultural heritage and environment by sponsoring our indigenous craftsmen/artists and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Daachi Foundation had been established in 2010, slowly building a rapport with craftsmen and local entrepreneurs. The ultimate goal remains to establish a permanent Daachi Nagar – a village situated 8 Km from Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore. It shall be designed with natural materials and embellished eclectic folk crafts from all over Pakistan.

    This iteration of exhibit focused on the pressing issue of plastic use; visitors were advised to bring their cloth carry bags to avoid single use plastic, in order to reduce the event’s carbon footprint.

    Daachi's No Plastic Rule

    As one enters the grand halls of Expo Center, one encounters two booths with potters’ wheels and a plethora of perfectly made, and a few disproportionate pots. Mouhammad Ibrahim was a potter from Bahalwalpur, who learnt the art of throwing pots from his father a decade ago. Visitors could pick a small lump of clay, watch him throw it, and pay a small amount of 100PKR to take that pot with them. Keeping his father’s tradition alive, Ibrahim runs a company called Cholistan Mitti Culture in Lahore. It was his first time in Karachi, and he was elated and overwhelmed to be here.

    Mouhammad Ibrahim Throwing Pottery (photo credits to the writer)

    Muhammad Waseem, coming all the way from Dera Ismail Khan, brought a display of Mughal art lacquer woodworks. His collection contained a selection of trays, plates, pots, and boxes – all hand painted with a very fine brush in a Mughal miniature style form. The patterns were intricate and recurring, depicting the flora and fauna often associated with this kind of artwork. The gold paint was used to give all the designs a pop of color against the flat maroons and blues.

    Miniature Lacquer Work (photo credits to the writer)

    Swat Art Gallery attracted the most visitors, and one could see the stall emptying of all the goods on sale in no time. A project of twin brothers, Ghazi and Gul Marjan, Swat Art Gallery is a furniture brand with expertise in hand carved, and hand painted tables, cabinets, and seats. The wood polished in hues of Sepia with inlaying of colorful marble tiles, the furniture heralded a commitment to the cultural heritage of the North, which is rarely seen in such quality in the South of Pakistan.

    Greyscale's Stall at Daachi (photo credits to Daachi)

    It was not just traditional work that caught people’s attentions. Home grown passion projects like that of Greyscale, with their planter collections in concrete, were also present to give everyone a taste of the minimal, urban-chic and Instagram-able lifestyle. These molded concrete planters came with indoor succulent plants and air purifiers. Their collection had wall clocks, ashtrays, and concrete alphabets to accessorize one’s table or shelves. High-end furniture designers like Zahra Ebrahim, also displayed her modern and minimalist designs to the public. Her printed trays and sophisticated carved center tables attracted attention toward her stall.

    Daachi helps the city dwellers to reconnect with their rich historical and cultural art and combine the modern minimalistic aesthetic of their homes with traditional handicrafts from Daachi. However, due to its expensive entry ticket and overpriced products, the festival some-what failed to make its products accessible to a large number of people. Catering to an exclusive circle of the urban elites in Karachi, this festival carved a niche by selling indigenous crafts to a select clientele only. This may benefit the producer, but it comes at the expense of denying those genuinely interested in learning about and buying these products.

    Daachi at Karachi Expo Center (photo credits to Daachi)

    Those interested can catch the next iteration of Daachi in Lahore, April 2020.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021