Chitrali Bazaar possesses traditional values

Chitrali Bazaar was set up in 1943 in the vicinity of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Initially the place was known as ‘Husn e Bazaar’, where British elite used to come and enjoy musical events and dances.

However after the partition the name changed to Islamabad Street and later it turned to ‘Chitrali Bazaar’.

Chitrali Bazaar is famous for its handmade Chitrali caps, waistcoats and robes embellished with colourful embroidery.

Nazeer Rabbaniya, a shopkeeper at Chitrali Market, has been working for 70 years. He revealed that, earlier, people from Afganistan, Swat, Peshawar and Chitral used to run businesses in Chitrali Bazaar. Whereas, the increase in the number of Chitrali people led to renaming the market to ‘Chitrali Bazaar’, he added.

According to the President of Chitrali Bazaar, Abdur Razaq Chitrali, the bazaar came into being before the independence of Pakistan.

“Our forefathers migrated here and set up their work which gradually increased the market value. Currently, people from seven different districts are working over here,” said Abdul Razaq.

Moreover, the market is comprised of 650 shops along with nearly 6,000 artisans associated with it.

On the contrary, a purchaser Bakhtyar Khan from Peshawar shared his views that this season brings a rise in retailing waistcoats and caps.

Wearing these caps is a part of their tradition, on the other hand people mandatorily wear these hats in weddings, added another customer Kashif.

While conversing with an artisan, it was disclosed that each cap take half an hour to get manufactured which is sold for Rs2,000. However, an artisan only earns Rs1200 for working 12 hours.