ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Three-day paper making workshop started at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) where the participants would be taught about the techniques required for paper making at home.

The concept of writing cannot be entertained without paper and knowledge of the world got conserved with the help of it. Paper has equally suffered inflation just like the other commodities of life therefore economical constraints hindered the students’ access to paper. Keeping in view the important part the paper plays in our life Anwaar Jehan, a lady who is an MBBS doctor by profession developed a passion to make paper using waste products.

Anwaar Jehan has paper making on her mind since she learnt various paper making techniques from Japanese expert, Tajima Shinji. She wants to pass down this passion into young minds. There is a wide horizon for paper making in Pakistan as it is an agro-based country. When crops are harvested in rural areas heaps of waste products are left behind those can easily be put into use for making paper.

Handmade paper does not require lots of equipment and can be prepared at home. A dilute suspension of fibers is made in water then it is drained through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibers is laid down. Water is removed from this mat by pressing and finally this mat is left to dry to become paper. Cotton, textiles waste and newspapers can be used for making paper at home.

“The art of handmade paper has diminished as machines have assumed a dominating status in our life. Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has taken special steps for propagation of this art. 500 teachers were trained about this art last year. This art should be made integral part of our syllabus for catering the need of paper in our daily life” told Anwaar Jehan.

Handmade paper is an exemplary textured paper for painting because here colors can be blended in a good way. “Handmade paper is economical as compared to the paper sold in market. Making paper by hand is a recreational activity as well,” said Nadia, an attendant of the workshop.