KOHAT: Mian Anwar Shah’s handmade jewellery and bird models are popular among both the local people and overseas Pakistanis.

The items made at the Anwar Shah’s outlet range from silver and gold rings to models of eagles, falcons, hawks to bangles, bracelets, chains and swords.

Located near the shrine of Hazrat Haji Bahadaur, Anwar Shah’s workplace is always a bustling spot.

Whenever a customer places an order he gets the product of his choice prepared in time.

According to statistics, every third family from Kohat and the neigbouring Orakzai tribal district has a member working abroad, while about 50 per cent people of Hangu are employed in foreign countries.

“Hangu is one of the prosperous districts in the country as far as living standard of people is concerned thanks to the fact that a good number of its residents work abroad and send foreign exchange to their families,” according to historian Zulfiqar Shah, who has also published a book on Kohat.

Jewellery shops in Kohat always full of customers and people from as far as Orakzai and Hangu come here because there is no such outlet in the tribal district and hardly a few can be found in Hangu.

According to Mr Shah, since he has to buy raw material from Peshawar, the cost of making different items is always high.

“The price tag of rings and bird models varies depending on the nature of stones and designs the people order.”

Mr Shah says that mostly he uses silver to make different items.

“On people’s demand, I insert their names and pictures in the models as they gift these items to their employers and colleagues in Gulf countries,” he said.

“With the price of gold getting out of reach of the middle and lower middle-class people, they have turned to affordable and cheap silver-mixed gold jewellery,” he said.

Mr Shah, however, regretted that there was no cutting or polishing factory of gemstones in Kohat and their availability was also an issue.

He said hundreds of artisans associated with making jewellery at home had become jobless due to easy availability of ready-made Italian and Turkish pieces in the market.

Asif Iqbal, who deals in precious stones, says that his partners in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan bring him gemstones which he sends to Namak Mandi Bazaar, Peshawar, for cutting and polishing.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2021