ISLAMABAD, May 13: ‘Carpets, any one?’ People come across pairs of Pakhtun boys carrying carpets on their shoulders inviting passers-by to buy one.

These carpets are synthetic; industrially produced ones, Farooq Ahmad, a carpet trader, said. He deals in hand-knotted rugs prepared by tribal areas people and nomads of countries surrounding Afghanistan.

Recently, he delivered an interesting talk on ‘old rugs’ at the Asian Study Group.

Those who listened to the lecture were impressed with his knowledge on how rugs were produced and from where one could get a genuine one.

His was a fairy tale-like description of the mystique of carpets and the difficulties which could be encountered in obtaining authentic rugs.

Mr Ahmad said hand-knotted rugs were part of the heirloom of nomad families who were often reluctant to part with their treasure, unless the family elder was forced through indigent circumstances to manage funds for dowry, sick relatives or higher education for children.

He said three generations of his family had been running this trade, and he was also being assisted by his brothers and relatives. He said his relatives had to visit distant villages to scout for these priceless old rugs. Some of the old rugs in possession of tribal people were about four centuries old.

Prolonged negotiations and tribal ceremonies were associated with the purchase of such rugs, Mr Ahmad said. One had to spend days and weeks to make a nomad part with his heirloom, and quite often he would note down the address of the buyer to buy them back. Normally, it was difficult to transport a quality rug of nomads to Pakistan, but Mr Farooq managed to bring them through intermediaries living in tribal areas.

He sends scouts to Azerbaijan, Iran, Kirgyztan, Turkmenistan and many other countries to find hand-woven carpets noted for their delicately-balanced colours and rich designs. —Jonaid Iqbal