HUNZA, June 25: The skilled people, including artisans, should be encouraged and given the best opportunities to practise their skills and transfer them to the new generation.

This was said by the chairman of the Karakoram Area Development Organization (KADO), Dr Khwaja Khan, at the Fourth Annual Artisan Conference held at Aliabad.

He said the event was a tribute to those craftsmen, who had kept the traditional arts and crafts alive and had been transferring them to the younger generation.

He alluded to the dedication of more than 2,500 local artisans, who are associated with the projects of the Karakoram Handicraft Development Programme (KHDP).

The chief guest, Brig (retd) Hisamullah Baig, appreciated the efforts being made by the KHDP and the KADO to preserve the crafts of the area.

More than 500 craftsmen from all over the Hunza Valley participated in the conference.