Seminar on Crafts of Murree
Punjab Small Industries Corporation started a project titled CDC Murree to promote and develop the crafts of Murree under the Directorate of H&D. The major objectives of the project were as under:
- To create market driven designs of various crafts and to supply them free of cost to local artisans.
- To get the samples/prototypes prepared by the artisans under the supervision of professionals, these will be catalogued.
- To hold seminars and exhibitions in 2009-10 at least in 4 major cities of the province as an awareness campaign not only to protect art, crafts and heritage of the area but to open new avenues of marketing outlets in private sector.
- To get local crafts registered under Geographical Indication. These facilities shall be provided through existing centre at Muree however with some renovation and repair of civil works.
In pursuance of the above a series of seminars/exhibitions were conducted at various places across the province. The brief orientation of those seminars is as under:
1. Seminar at Rawalpindi:
1st seminar was conducted at Rawalpindi on 30-12-2009 at Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Quite a number of dignitaries attended the seminar. MD PSIC, Director H&D PSIC, Director Admn and Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb Member Parliament spoke at the occasion and all of them appreciated the efforts of PSIC in the development of the craft. It was also mentioned that such seminars will promote the crafts and bring more revenue for the region.
2. Seminar at Lahore:
This seminar was conducted at Lahore on 7-6-2010 at Al-Hamra Hall No. 3 and proved to be most successful as a large number of general public along with local artisans and press media attended it. An exhibition of the crafts of Murree also followed the seminar. MD PSIC, Director H&D PSIC, Ms Mussarat Imam Director PNCA, Mr. Saeed Akhter Renowned Portrait Artist and Dr. Saif ur Rehman Archeologist expressed their views at this seminar relating to the crafts of Murree. People at the seminar appreciated he artwork on various items that are used in everyday life. They said that items displayed are unique and represented the specialty of the local dwellers of Murree developed through the project.
3. Seminar at Murree:
The seminar at Murree was held on 16-6-2010 and was unique as it was conducted at the home land of artisans. Majority of the artisans attended it and appreciated the efforts of PSIC to develop the craft. At this occasion Managing Director PSIC praised the work done by the artisans and incited them to develop more innovative products to cater the market.
4. Seminar at Islamabad
Final seminar regarding the crafts of Murree was held at Lok Virsa Auditoium, Islamabad on 10-7-2010 with an exhibition of the crafts afterwards. At this occasion Dr. Khalid Javaid Executive Director Lok Virse, Dr,. Saif Ur Rehman Archeologist, Mr. Nazir ahmed Director H&D, expressed their views about the culture, heritage, and crafts of the Murree. The concluding Remarks were given by Dr. Allah Bakhsh Malik MD PSIC. He expressed his satisfaction on the activities of PSIC in promoting the crafts of regions in Punjab at local and international level.
To promote the crafts of Murree and to elaborate the craft, Flex Screens were put at the venues which added the grace to the seminars.
