CHARSADDA, Jan 12: Charsadda is known for khaddar but people attached with the production of this traditional hand-woven fabric are depressed about poor business and blame it on the government' snegligence They feel khaddar weaving could fetch the national kitty lots of revenue besides offering excellent employment opportunities.

Locally known as khamta and popular with locals and foreigners alike, khaddar, both pure and the one mixed with nylon, is produced in Rajar, Mata Mughal Khel and Othmanzai areas of Charsadda district.

In Matta Mughal Khel, there are around 55 khaddar producing units with 725 power looms and 1200 handlooms.

Around 288 technical employees and 408 helpers work there.

In Rajar, there are 600 handlooms and dozens of power looms employing hundreds of people, while Othmanzai, too,has a big network of handlooms and power looms.

Products of khaddar include handmade and machine-made shawls for men and women, clothes and scarves. Latest designs embroidered on khaddar are popular across the country.

Use of khaddar first began in Afghanistan and later spilled over to the adjoining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to cultural similarity. Its production units in Charsadda enjoy an industrial status.

Sarhad Rural Support Development (SRSD) organised a workshop 'Charsadda Weaving Project Empowering Rural Women Linkage Building' here with the cooperation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) here in Charsadda.

Businessmen and investors, who showed up in large numbers, promised support and cooperation for revival of khaddar industry.

Locally-produced Khaddar products, including shawls, handbags and caps, were displayed at stalls. Visitors likedthem all and bought them in large numbers.

Sixty women and men each were given certificates and cash prizes on completing khaddar weaving training course.

Noted among speakers were SRSP programme manager Zafar Naeem, district program manager Mian Khalid Khan, CDRSP Canada chief executive Thatcher, WBDC's Nabeela Safdar and Islamabad Lok Virsa's Naseem Bibi.

They said skills and resources were vital for poverty alleviation and that there was no shortage of skilled manpower in the country but what the skilled people needed was proper training and right opportunities for growth.

Speakers stressed the need for standardising khaddar products for their sale in international market and generate revenue. They suggested to the government to help local entrepreneurs sign memorandums of understanding with the government or private institutions to get latest machinery for their units.