The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa organised a one-day workshop to discuss craft related problems in connection with ongoing artisans-at-Work exhibition under "Craft of the Month" programme.
The purpose of the workshop was to provide an opportunity to the master artisans participating in the exhibition to discuss their issues with craft-related experts and seek their views and guidelines for solving them.
Artisans, craft connoisseurs, craft dealers, craft lovers and craft designers attended the workshop, an official of Lok Virsa told APP on Wednesday. Initially, four major problems were identified during the workshop including lack of funds to grow craftsmanship, lack of assistance for design and marketing, how to compete in the international market and how to improve the quality of products with modern day requirements.
The experts suggested that artisans should apply for soft loans from various government departments like Small Business Finance Corporation and Lok Virsa should provide its outdoor vacant shops at its premises to the artisan to hold exhibition-cum-sale of products on rotational basis.
They stressed that continuous interaction of artisans with craft designers and experts should be ensured while a proper system for quality control should be devised to compete international market.
Indigenous patterns and traditional designs specific to a crafts category must be protected and continued while adopting new innovations and marketing techniques to meet present day demands. Beautiful packaging should also be introduced as presentation to attract buyers, they added.
They proposed that private sector and business entrepreneur may come forward for export of craft products. While explaining Lok Virsa's point of view, Khalid Javaid, Director (Museum), Lok Virsa apprised the participants about the steps taken by the institute for betterment and promotion of crafts as well as craftspeople. He informed that 30 to 35 master artisans have so far been awarded President's Pride of Performance on the recommendation of Lok Virsa.