Art & Craft

Multani Art & Craft Guide

There are 18 different Craftsmen & Women in the market. Now let us get some information about their art or Craft Entering the hall, there is a shop of Multani Embroidery where Rasheeda Begum is present her family has been associated with the embroidery of Multan for three generation. Women in this part have been making a special form of embroidery called "Multani Embroidery" Since ancient times. Women do this work with hand and needle. This work is the cultural identity of Multan.Rasheeda Begum Has won many Lok varsa awards. Next is the shop of "Crochet" where Fatima Bibi is present. In the ancient (old) history of Multan crochet work has been used for its beauty & decoration for centuries. In the beginning animal wool was used for this purpose. But now bed sheet, cushions & chadars are make of crochet for which thread & wool is used. Fatima Bibi has also inherited this craft & has been doing this work for 30 years. Her daughter have also been helping her in this work.
Next is "Okre Maker" Haq Nawaz. This work has been going on since ancient times. It is an old craft of design making on " Khussa". Now a day this art is used in "calligraphy". Haq Nawaz has been associated with this craft for 30 Years and he has learned this art from " Ustad Naiz Ahmed Bhatti". He has won Lok Varsa, Multan Art Council and National craft council awards.
Next is the carpet maker expert Shaukat Pervaiz where a servant is busy working on a hand loom. Shaukat Pervaiz told us that he has been associated with this art for 60Years and their ancestors have been doing this work for centuries. The art of carpet making is the identity of Iranian & Afghan Culture. Multan has always been a great passage. Therefore this craft has take up local impressions 7 so got into the new, present shape. Shaukat Pervaiz told us that the carpets made by hand are sold quite expensively and I often say that it is prepared by extremely poor men and bought by extremely rich. In Multan, carpet up to 2000 Sq. Foot is prepared by hand.
Next is the shop of Glittering Laces called "Gota Kinari', where we found Tehmina Rafique. She has also inherited this art and taught more than 1000 girls students. this work is done by the fine thread of gold or silver. Multan is famous for it and this art has flourished a lot.
Next is the shop of "Multani Khussa", where Ustad Allah Buksh is busy in making Khussas. The craft made of leather for wearing is a part of great culture. It is said that this art came into existence after the invasuin of Alexander the great. So in the same respect, the history of Multani Khussa is very old in which the goat skin is used. Ustad Allah Baksh told us that his ancestors have been associated with this craft for seven generations and he is making these Khussas for 80 Years.
Next is Muhammad Zubair who is associated with the art of jewelry making. For centuries this art has continued in Multan, Muhammad Zubair has also inherited this art & his family has been in jewelry making for four generations. He has also written more than 50 books on the designing of jewelry. He learnt this art from his father Muhammad Shafi.
Next we found the shop of "Zar Dozi" where Khalil Ahmed Sayal is present. He learnt this art from his father and his mother was also associated with it. There are many experts of Zar Dozi in Multan. He has been representing Multan in " Lok Varsa" Since 1985.
Next is Ustad Abdul Rasheed who is into the craft. Where things out of ivory & camel bone are prepared In Multan and especially desert regions women wear jewelry of these. In addition to jewelry, table lamp, lockets & other things are also made. Ustad Abdul Rasheed told us that at first work was done on ivory but now it is done on camel's bones. He has been in this business for 8 Years.
Next is the Presidential Award winner impressionist Malik Ashiq & Son Abdul Rehman. This art has been in this region for centuries. In 1910 Ustad Abdullah Naqaash introduced the Islamic touch to this art by making lamps of camel's skin. In Agra, India, the " Naqaash" of this family are still working. A hall in Serena Hotel Faisalabad has been named after his father and is declared the best hall of Asia.
Then we have the expert of "Kaashi" Muhammad Wajid who also inherited this craft. This craft came to the sub-continent from Iran and Middle East. Muhammad Wajid told us that in 1986, his father Allah Divaya got the Agha Khan Award for his work. he also worked at the Shrine of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam. Multan is Famous for the work of blue, turquoise tiles. He also worked on Bhong Mosque. He also got Lok Varsa & art Council Award.
Then there is the expert of pottery making Ustad Ibrahim. pottery making is an old craft that has continued for generations in their family. He told us that he has been doing this since the age of ten years.
Next is the expert Ustad Ajmal Chistti of Glass-Work. Its is an old tradition, Pieces of Glass are joined to from a specific design on different buildings and for designing utensils or pottery. He has been in this profession for 32 Years and kearnt it from Ustad Shaukat Hussain. he had also worked in Afghanistan & Japan and won many awards.
Then there is Muhammad Arshad "Pattoli Maker" Gold jewelry is made more beautiful with beads & wires and thread. He is engaged in this work for 32 years.
Next is the famous Painter,Artist and Calligrapher Ali Ijaz Nazami. Now he is working on this which has a modern touch to it. He has also won numerous awards. Then we have printer Waheed who makes print on women clothes, these are mad e of special wood. He has been in this field for 3 generations. Then there are carving expert Muhammad Zaman Qamar," Chitr Kari" is done on gold, Silver & Copper. He told us that 99 names of Allah Almighty are written on a ring that is about the size of a pin. He also won many awards.
The craft men of Pakistan's first ever Craft Bazaar are quite happy for they have got a place where the people who appreciate or love their work can visit them but they hare demanding from the Government of Pakistan that they should loan on simple conditions so that this art progresses by keeps & bounds. The Craft Bazaar Multan Pakistan is the only Bazaar or market where the facilities are provided for the crafts men to express their art and skill. We hope that in the same way, in other national cities, Craft Bazaar for crafts men are built to keep the arts & crafts alive & to let them prosper.