PESHAWAR
\nPeshawari Chappal, a famous traditional footwear with eye-catching designs started attracting customers ahead of Eidul Fitr celebrations.
\nWith less than five days left in Eidul Fitr, people thronged to Peshawari chappal outlets to select appropriate shoes for themselves and family members.
\nKnown as the city of artisans, Peshawar\u2019s Jahangirpura Bazaar near the historic Qissakhwani Bazaar has been the hub of skilled cobblers where shoemakers are burning the midnight oil to meet the growing demands of people. Many consumers, belonging to other districts, have trekked long distances to buy decent, shiny and unique designs for themselves and their family members.
\nBesides its cultural relevance, one contributing factor to the increased preference for durable readymade chappals is the skyrocketing costs of foreign footwear, which the salaried, middle class and low-income groups can barely afford.
\nFayaz Khan, a local shoemaker who remained associated with this hard business for the past 25 years in Jhangirpura, said that peoples\u2019 demands for this traditional chappal has increased manifold due to its durability and shininess.
\n\u201cCurrently, we cannot accept more orders due to shortage of time, power load-shedding and fasting,\u201d he said.
\nFayaz felt proud of adhering to these skills from his forefathers, who were associated with this profession for decades with expertise, skill and craftsmanship.
\n\u201cPeshawari chappal is my favorite and my Eid seems incomplete without it,\u201d Faraz, Khan, a resident of Wapda Town Nowshera, said while selecting footwear for himself and family members at Jhangirpura.
\n\u201cI purchased six sets of handmade designs of Peshawari chappal for Rs5000 each this year as against Rs4,500 last year for myself, brother, and orphans,\u201d he said adding that purchasing shoes and clothes for poor people would double our joy on Eid.
\nHe urged the government to regulate this business and fix rates for Peshawari chappal to facilitate the customers.
\n\u201cPeshawar chappal is my first choice for Eid as it gives a traditional touch with shalwar qameez and can also be worn with pants and jeans, as is the trend now,\u201d Professor Ehtisham Khan, a resident of Nowshera, said.
\n\u201cI purchased plain black and green designs of this famous chappal as demanded by my brothers,\u201d he said, adding that its other designs both for girls and boys with different prints embellished with stones are giving a different look and individual style attracting an influx of buyers on Eid.
\nThe unique footwear is exported to South Africa, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Europe, Afghanistan and Russia besides is liked in Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
\nHe urged the provincial government to announce a special financial package for shoemakers.
\nThe centuries-old Peshawar chappal business would grow only if the government provided interest-free loans to the labourers, he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Peshawari Chappal, a famous traditional footwear with eye-catching designs started attracting customers ahead of Eidul Fitr celebrations. With less than five days left in Eidul Fitr, people thronged to Peshawari chappal outlets to select appropriate shoes for themselves and family members. Known as the city of artisans, Peshawar\u2019s Jahangirpura Bazaar near the historic Qissakhwani […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":469196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-469205","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n