Takhar traditional bladesmith industry faces stagnation

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): Traditional knife making industry in northern Takhar province is losing its market and public interest in this sector was declining as well.

Abdul Wakeel, one of the knife makers, has strived to keep this industry alive by making knife with traditional tools and facilities.

He kept his oven warm by the flams of fire inside which iron is melting to be prepared for the making of a knife.

Hailing from the Rustaq district, he said after the entry of foreign products into the market people lost their interest in locally made items.

Hammer and the stone plate are the only tools knife makers are use in the making of knife. They collected pieces of iron melt them and then convert them into knife.

Abdul Wakeel said he intertied this craft from his grandfather and through this way he arrange food for his eight member family and provided work opportunity for some individuals.

He asked the people to use local product instead of buying imported products.

Waheedullah, the son of Abdul Wakeel said he strive to keep this craft alive and worked alongside his father for this purpose.

He said one locally made knife price was from 200 to 2,000 and in this way they arrange livelihood for themselves.

Deputy Director of Commerce and Industry Mawlavi Ziauddin said efforts to promote local products was underway adding that they strive to stop the stagnation of locally made items.

nh