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    From the Artisans by Indus Heritage Trust

    Written by: Saif ul Islam
    Posted on: August 09, 2018 | | 中文

    Table runners from the tribal collection

    On Saturday afternoon, 4thAugust, the first floor of a Kohsar Market café, Table Talk, served as the venue for an exhibition and a celebration of handicrafts by artisans from rural areas of Punjab and Sindh. Hosted by the Indus Heritage Trust, the event gathered women from across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, to witness Pakistani cultural creativity and buy the products resulting from it.

    As I climbed up the stairs to the first floor of the café, I could hear women sharing their views about the craftwork. Handmade apparel was hung from the racks in the centre, whereas colourful handbags with woven artwork were placed on the shelves at the sides. On the terrace outside, numerous quilts and pillows inspired by diverse ethnicities caught the attention of the visitors and customers.

    Table talk, the event venue

    Table talk, the event venue

    Combining Central Asian motifs with bright Punjabi colours, the Suzani collection employed the Aar technique to create blue and red floral motifs on various bags and cushions. Within the Aar technique, a special hooked needle is used to form loops of chain stitch embroidery. The same technique had also resulted in their Klim collection, which consisted of geometric patterns embroidered onto cushions and bags. Work inspired by Sindhi design included ralli, which involves appliqué work, and delicate tribal needlework inspired by ancient motifs. The Klim and Tribal collections were especially popular among the visitors.

    While everyone was admiring the work and keeping each other company, I happened to come across the person behind it all. Siddiqa S. Malik, the Chairperson of the Indus Heritage Trust, was a vibrant figure among the people present. After spending 35 years in the United States, she witnessed the popularity of Pakistani artwork in the west and discerned it as a doorway for not only establishing an effective business, but also for promoting Pakistani artisans. During our conversation, she shared her vision for using the representation of Pakistani culture abroad to build our positive image around the globe. Through her efforts under the ambit of Indus Heritage Trust, she simultaneously plays a vital role in providing sustainable income sources to the women living in rural Punjab and Sindh.

    Cushions from the Klim collection

    Cushions from the Klim collection

    “It was a difficult task at the beginning. We had to inculcate punctuality and the importance of deadlines among our artisans. Our efforts were focused on bringing their creativity at par with the customer demand,” she explained.

    Taking a closer look at the products, one could see the elegant handiwork of the artisans, who had been given a duration of six weeks to complete them. The design of each product is carefully planned by designers at the trust, which are then sampled to the women in villages, who make the products using wooden frames, thread and needles. At present, Indus Heritage has 1700 beneficiary artisans and 8 creative enterprises spread out in Punjab and Sindh. Furthermore, they have developed design centres in both provinces, to facilitate the beneficiaries in all their needs.

    A handbag from the Suzani collection

    A handbag from the Suzani collection

    After seeing the audience and customers pouring in and out of the doors, one can conclude that the event turned out to be a huge success. The ambience of the venue, the artwork of the artisans, the exuberance of the visitors, and the hospitality of the hosts, all played a key role in furthering the wonderful social cause of the event.

    As I took my leave, Ms. Siddiqa Malik’s words resounded in my head, “All we want to convey through our efforts is that Pakistanis should recognize and own our indigenous culture. A single person can further their culture by buying products created by local craftsmen. We are playing our role in spreading it and people need to play their part.”


    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