The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) in collaboration with the Business Support Fund, established by the Government of Pakistan, has planned to execute 100 pilot projects in two years under 'Aik Hunar-Aik Nagar' (Ahan) programme so as to replicate successful models of 'one village-one product' adopted by Japan and Thailand to give boost to their exports.
As many as 50 pilot projects would be executed in each year for which products and areas have already been identified, sources told Business Recorder here in Monday.
They said Ahan seeks to modernise micro and small enterprises in rural and peri-urban areas through business development services leading to creation and diversification of sustainable income earning opportunities, particularly for landless, women, and wage earners.
After his visit to Japan and Thailand, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had asked Smeda to evolve comprehensive strategy for adopting models of 'one village-one product' in Pakistan so that hidden potential in various towns could be exploited by providing technical skill, improving designs of the products which would not only help alleviate poverty but also fetch precious foreign exchange for the national exchequer.
The pilot methodology prepared for the execution of projects include area identification, product studies, product development and quality assurance, focus groups formation, capacity building, technology up-gradation, promotion and market linkages. The range of products selected for the pilot projects are: traditional handicrafts, decoration pieces, items of daily or occasional use, any other product, which, if developed, can bring income to its poor community.
The targeted cities/towns in Punjab for the potential products that have been selected included; Sillanwali for handicrafts (lacquer work), Multan/Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur for embroidery, Karror Pacca for block/screen printing, Murree/Kotli for work 'gabba' (woolen embroidery, Chiniot for wooden furniture, Multan for blue pottery, 'Khussa', camel bone, Kamalia for 'Khaddar', Gujranwala for 'Khais', Jhang for basket making, Rawalpindi and Multan for 'Gota' work, Rawalpindi for doll-making and 'Moti Karrai', Chakwal and Rawalpindi for crochet, Multan and Ghakkar for 'Darree' weaving, Taxila for stone work, Kasur for 'Khussa' and Khushab has been identified for 'Lungi'.
In Sindh, Hyderabad has been identified for bangles, Khyber (Near Hala) for 'Ajrak', Khairpur for hand-made silk, Theri (near Khairpur for dates processing, Shikarpur for pickle, Nasarpur for ceramic tiles, Mirpur Khas and Islamkot for carpets (handlooms), Larkana/Thattta/Hala for cap, Hala for heritage furniture, Rali, ceramic, clay products and Thar for 'Rilli'.
Similarly, the towns/cities from NWFP-Northern Areas and AJK identified for various products, including Swat for 'Topi', 'Khes', shawls, embroidery/'Khaddar' weaving and Swati 'Pulkari', Charsada/Kohat for 'chappals', 'Khaddar' weaving, Peshawar for brass work, wax work, Gullman for rugs, Dera Ismail Khan for heritage furniture, 'Zari' work, 'Tagar' weaving, mirror work, 'Dukki and dates, Muzaffarabad for paper Mache, Chitral/Gilgit for thread weaving, Mardan for Khaddar weaving, and Hunza for Sharma weaving.
While the cities identified from Balochistan are; Loralai, Kalat, Mastung, Changhai, Quetta, Qila Abdullah, and Lehri for handmade carpets, knives, daggers and guns, Pishin, Khuzdar, Khulo, Loralai, Zhob, Musakhel, Barkhan, Muslim Bagh, Dera Bugti, Sui, Mustung, Kharan, Punjgar, Mitheri and Quetta for embroidery, Dera Bugti, Sui, Jaffarabad, Pishin, Khuzdar, Kalat, Barkhan, Loralai, Quetta for 'Chappals',
Quetta, Mustung, Kalat, Sibi, Lorali for silver jewellery, Sibi, Bakhtiarabad and Quetta for clay pots, Qila Saifullah, Barkhan Lorali and Quetta for woolen blankets and leather embroidery.
The project of silverware has already been initiated in Bahawalpur in collaboration with the Beacon House National University, the Jewellers Association, and the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A 12-day course was launched that benefited 10 craftsmen and 300 others indirectly.
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