Karakul skin export from Balkh increases

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Nearly 93,000 karakul skins exported to foreign countries during the first eight months of ongoing year, an official said said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Arif, head of the Karakul Export Development Institute, told Pajhwok Afghan News, since the start of the ongoing year, the union exported 92,658 karakul skins to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and some European countries.

The current exports of this precious skin showed a significant increase compared to last year in which 59,997 skin pieces were exported.

On the other hand, Karakul businessmen complained about the decline in their business inside the country after its export to the foreign nations had increased.

They said karakul skin is used in hats making inside the country but the people of other countries used it for other purposes, they hoped the same uses of this skin must be applied inside Afghanistan as well.

Mohammad Dawoud Koshani, 70, of Mazar-i-Sharif has been in the business of karakul for the past four decades, he inherited this profession from his ancestors.

Koshani said hundreds of workers worked in this industry in the past, but the number of such workers had become very limited recently.

Referring to the use of this skin, Koshani said the use of karakul hats has declined in Afghanistan but its prices have increased due to its exports to foreign countries.

Shuja Uddin, another businessman of karakul described the skin had six different types adding their prices varied according to their type and color, he said its most famous color was “red” which is mostly worn by rich people.

Referring to its exports to foreign countries, he said the people of this country were not very interested in wearing the karakul hats.

Naseer Ahmad Niazi, head of Industry and Commerce department of northern Balkh province assured his department’s support from this industry and said the use karakul will be restored in Afghan society.

According to Niazi’s information, the karakul skin was resistant to 45 degrees Celsius during the summer and minus 30 degrees Celsius during the winter.

The officials of karakul union said currently Afghan karakul ranked first in the world, and the demand for Afghan karakul in the global market was increasing day by day.

Aw/nh