LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) will inaugurate the Craft Ghar, the first customised souvenir shop in the old Lahore, at Delhi Gate on Monday (tomorrow).

The Craft Ghar is going to be a unique shop for promotion of indigenous and local art and crafts, officials in the authority told Dawn.

Talking about the purpose of the endeavour, they said it would promote locally made artifacts of the budding as well as the master artisans of old Lahore. Moreover, customised souvenirs like T-shirts, caps, mugs, fridge magnets, key chains, file folders, water bottles, paintings, table sets, table coasters and other attractive products by the WCLA and renowned companies had been placed in the shop.

The Craft Ghar products would be available on its website and Facebook page as well so that the customers throughout the country and world could purchase them online.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Craft Ghar has been located inside the rooms of the Delhi Gate of Lahore.

“This is the first souvenir shop of customised items and is located in a heritage setting. We have engaged artisans from all over the old Lahore to make products and put them on sale in the Craft Ghar. We are also focusing on the revival of the dying arts,” Aisha Khan, deputy director Crafts and Tourism WCLA, said.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said these kinds of activities would not only financially help the artisans but they would also spark interest in the people regarding hand-made artifacts.

“The WCLA as a pioneer in promotion of heritage will use all its resources to assist and market the newcomers in this field and revive the dying crafts of the city,” Mr Lashari added.

This first of its kind souvenir shop. A similar customised souvenir shop would also open on Monday at Shahi Hamam and another one in the next couple of months at the Lahore Fort.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2021