CRAFTS AND HANDICRAFTS OF

PAKISTAN
Pakistan has a rich history of handicrafts.
Handicrafts reflects the culture and tradition
of Pakistan. These handicrafts spread out
quality of beauty and show the inherited
skills of people. The actual beauty of a piece
of handicrafts surely depends on the
simplicity of material, the glimpses of a
culture and touch of art.
The Kashmiri Shawls, the Balochi and
Sindhi embroidery work, the Peshawari
chapels and carpets, camel skin lamps of
Multan, Gujrati pottery and the wood and
brass work done in different parts of
Pakistan. Handicrafts are the most
outstanding expressions of the
individuality of Pakistan’s regional
identities. The color, the shape or style of
a craft item will represent the specialty of
region.
Wood Crafts
The art of carving on Metal & Wood items
are the real beauties of our hard working
Craftsmen.
These items are manufactured in small
villages by hard-working craftsman, and
can easily be purchased in big cities. Such
crafts include, mirror frames, decoration
pieces etc.
Chiniot and areas adjacent to Kashmir are famous
for the exquisite carving in wood and woodcrafts
inlaid with ivory, which are highly prized by
tourists. Carving in ivory is a very specialized art
requiring a high degree of skill and patient work
on the part of the artisan. Caskets with delicate
lace work ale highly prized. The present artisans
have inherited the skill from gene-rations going
far back into the past. The carved wooden
furniture in wide range is exported in huge
quantities because of its richness in design and
high quality wood.
Pottery
Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Gujrat and other
places produced colorful pottery which
reflect the traditional heritage. Mult an is
famous for its fabulous blue pottery.
Chiniot is also known for carving work on
woods. Pakistani potters are responsible for
making the tiles that decorate mosques
and public buildings.
Carpets & Textile
Pakistan has tradition of carpet-making.
The handmade carpets produced in
Lahore. Islamic designs in woolen
carpets are the cultural part of South
Asia and the Middle East. In Pakistan,
Karachi and Lahore are important
centers for the production of fine
carpets. Sindh and Baloch people are
famous for their mirror embroidery,
where small mirrors are stitched into the
fabric to create sparkly masterpieces.
Furniture
Pakistani furniture is known all over
the world for its beautiful and
complicated designs. The wood is
available in crowded jungles in
northern areas of Pakistan. In local
language people knew it
”SHESHAM”. Such furniture is
famous all over the world for its
uniqueness and beauty.
Jewelry & Leather Goods
Important crafts jewelry includes
metal work on swords, boxes and
dishes. And jewelry with precious
stones and pearls is not limited to
necklaces, bracelets, rings but also
includes hair and forehead
decorations and nose stuff.
Leatherwork and basketry are also
important crafts.
Handicrafts of Pakistan
Pakistan has inherited a rich cultural
heritage from its history which is as old as
7000-9000 years old. The imprints left by
successive civilizations have left a rich
heritage of handicrafts. The different
regions with wide variety of tradition and
culture, dialects, folklore, music, dresses
and costumes have much to offer to any
connoisseur of handicrafts.
The Kashmiri Shawls, the Balochi and Sindhi
embroidery work, the Peshawari chappals (an
indigenous shoe ware) and carpets, camel skin lamps of
Multan, Gujrati pottery and the wood and brass work
done in different parts of Pakistan have charm of their
very own. The handicraft shops in major cities and
hotels abound in the handicrafts of Pakistan, which are
taken as souvenirs by the tourists from the world over.
These specially include the handicrafts made of marble,
camel skin, wood and ivory work and cane-basket
work. In fact the handicrafts are the most striking
expressions of the individuality of Pakistan’s regional
identities. The color, the shape or style of a craft item
instantly evokes its region.
Multan, Bahawalpur and Hala are famous
for the blue pottery made of special clay
found in these areas. These are wrought
by the inherited skill of artisans into paper-
thin pottery noted for its elegance,
delicacy of design and decorative patterns
painted thereon.
Brass utensils once used to be common in
household uses, especially in the villages. Now
these have slowly and gradually vanished due to
their high cost, but brassware handicrafts can still
be found displaying master craft of the artisans.
They make decorative plates, vases, bowls and
similar other things in exquisite designs
reminiscent of the great Mughal period. Products
of polished brass have their own appeal but it is
the engraved work in colorful and artistic patterns
that is most prized. In Peshawar, brass work is
done on many things like household utensils of
daily use to decoration pieces.
In Hindko (one of the much spoken
languages in NWFP), brass is called as
“Mis,” and the individuals who work on this
metal are called “Misgar.” In Peshawar a big
market is allocated for this handicraft,
known as, “Misgaran Bazaar,” that means,
bazaar of brass workers. People of NWFP
give household utensils to their daughters
in “Dowry,” that are made of brass and are
beautifully carved. These include water
storage and cooking utensils.
Embroidery is one of the most sought out
handicrafts of Pakistan the world over. Multan,
Bahawalpur and surrounding areas are full of
gifted men and women who produce one of the
most adorable cross stitch. "Tilla" work, Pearl
work and "Salma Sitary" work of NWFP are very
famous throughout the country. Swat is well-
known due to thread embroidery, whereas, in
D.G.Khan mirror work is done on clothes. Works
of these types are called "Kadhai." Chitrali "Patti,"
that is woven on hand looms and Kadhai done on
Chitrali Chugha is very famous.
Pakistan is also world famous for its hand
knotted carpets. Lahore and
surrendering areas abound in small
weavers who make “Chand Chauthai”
carpets. These carpets have a density is
200 knots per square inch and are made
of locally spun carpet wool - yarn and
dyed fast with chrome dyes.
Marble Carving generally come from
Balochistan and NWFP. The utility articles
of Balochistan include marble carved in
decorative patterns, which represent a
rare craftsmanship of the area; the skill
having been passed on from generations
to generations over a period in the past
which would perhaps go back to the
Palaeolithic age. The onyx made show
pieces are really eye catching.
Truck Art: With its all colorful floral patterns,
depiction of human heroes with creative
aspect ratios, calligraphy of poetic verses
and driver’s words of wisdom, this form of
art is truly a part of Pakistani transport
tradition.
These truck bodies are immaculately painted
by the street artists who can be found at
Truck stands all across the country. e.g.
Hawkes Bay/Mauripur Road Road Karachi,
Pir Wadhai Rawalpindi, Badami Bagh Lahore,
Sariab Road Quetta etc.
These hired artists then paint the whole
truck in brightly colored patterns. It is said
that everty city’s artists have perfected their
art in their own signature way. Trucks
decorated in Quetta and Peshawar get lots of
wood trimming where as those in Rawalpindi
get lots of plastic decoration. Karachi excels
in using reflective tapes, also called ‘chamak
patty’ in local language. Camel bone
decoration is used by artists of rural Sindh.
Pakistani trucks are also used as means of
displaying the owner or the Painter’s Poetic
taste. It also serves as a calligraphic board
as well as a notice board for public
messages.
The truck owners and truck artists of
Pakistan also pay homage to their heroes
and heroines in their own innocent ways.
These painting do not strictly follow the
aspect ratio of real life figures.
Sindhi Hand Embroidery: The Breathtakingly
Sizzling Designs
It is important to note certain points in mind
regarding the fabulous designs and embroidery.
Sindhi hand embroidery is not specifically
practised in Sindh but also other regions of
India such as Kutch and Kathiawar. It is strange
yet interesting knowledge that the embroidery
is also known as the interlacing embroidery.
The designs of Sindhi embroidery are mostly
chevrons and checks giving them a stylishly
classic as well as traditional look which is
sometimes created in bird or flower form.
Colourful Threads Used in Sindhi Hand
Embroidery
Pakistani Baloch Culture
Pakistani culture and its people always use to display
various colorful customs, traditions. People of
Balochistan constitute a number of tribes. Three major
tribes are Pashtoon, Baloch Baloch & Brahvi.
Balochistan portrays various groups. People speak
different languages.
Baloch Culture
The people of Balochistan are very loving
and leading a very simple life. The
formation of villages with having houses
made of mud, are a big attraction for the
guests and tourists.
Pakistan frequently appear to debase
their picture and everything connected
to the Pakistani picture, if it be our
customary shoes fabrics, accessories or
anything other than connect to Pakistan
tradition, Pakistan’s Peshawari chappal
was embraced by one of the outside
designer ” Paul Smith” looking to some
extent like the traditional Peshawari
chappal.
Khussa is a style of South Asian handcrafted
footwear produced in Punjab Pakistan.
Khussa are made by artisans mostly using
vegetable-tanned leather. The uppers are made
of one piece of leather or textile embroidered
and embellished with brass nails, cowry shells,
mirrors, bells and ceramic beads. Even the
bonding from the upper to the sole is done by
cotton thread that is not only eco-friendly but
also enmeshes the leather fibers with great
strength. Some product range also uses bright
and ornate threads
In ancient times these were worn by multitude and
royalty. As it evolved through the centuries and is being
produced by individual artisans, products vary in designs
and colours. It encapsules cultural diversity, local ethos
and ethnicity.
The ethnicity of the traditional skills accentuate into
poetry when intermingled with the contemporary colours
and designs. Applique in form of differently designed
figures are cut out of leather and sewn on the vamp
manually. The design would dictate the nature, colour and
shape of the appliqué. It could range from an intricate
appliqué which itself could incorporate other design
features like embroidery, punches, weaves, etc., to a
simple cut out shape from any material like leather,
textile, synthetic, etc.