LAHORE: Professor Dr Samra Mohsin Khan presented a paper, titled “Trade, Peshawar and Development of Mohallah Sethian” at THAAP.

She traced the expansion of the trade during the early modern period circa 1500-1800 and the impact it had on the growth and development on the city of Peshawar in general and the fortunes of leading trading family the Sethis of Peshawar in particular.

Professor Samra traced the growth of the city and its two main gates, the Kabuli Gate and the Lahori Gate, emphasizing the trade route and the logistic pattern.

The caravanerais were an important link in the trade and Professor Khan explained, in detail, the establishment of the various serais over a period of time. She illustrated her talk with the examples of the Havelis of the Sethi family and traced the history and prosperity they enjoyed.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2021