In Karachi, Pakistan's first handmade art shop was opened by artists with disabilities on Saturday.
The Jiddat point of sale is affiliated with the Karachi Vocational Training Center (KVTC) in the exclusive area of the Ministry of Defense.
The centre offers education and therapy to young people with an intellectual disability and has an internship program for them.
"This is the first outlet in Pakistan to exclusively sell special children's work," KVTC creative director Bushra Mir told media.
Jiddat artists are trained by the KVTC in techniques such as block printing, screen printing, embroidery, tailoring and woodworking.
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“We used to sell their work at exhibitions, but then we got the idea that Jiddat would sell the great craftsmanship of these extraordinarily talented people with disabilities,” said Mir.
Human Rights Watch estimates that the number of people with various mental and physical disabilities in Pakistan, a country of 220 million people, varies widely between 3.3 and 27 million.
Under Pakistani law, 2 percent of a company's employees must be "disabled".
A Supreme Court ruling last August required federal and state governments to take steps to achieve equal participation of people with disabilities in accordance with the 2011 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Pakistan in 2011 .
Sindh's Prime Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, who opened the company, promised that his government would employ 5,000 disabled people and support the center by 2030.
Cheif Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the much awaited Jiddat Outlet. @MuradAliShahPPP #jiddat #abrandbyKVTC #CMSindh #MuradAliShah #outlet #opening #KVTC #Karachi #BreakingNews #ARYNewsUrdu #PPP pic.twitter.com/iTN629f9qJ
— KVTC (@kvtc1991) March 13, 2021
This is a daunting task and the KVTC and his team deserve our credit and support, ”said Shah, adding that similar stores should be opened in all parts of Sindh province.
The opportunity to sell their work - from home accessories to clothing - gives Jiddat artists a sense of accomplishment.
'They feel that their own hard work has made them money. Parents are also very happy, ”said Mir. One of the artists, Mudassar Faisal, was unable to continue his education in a regular school and dropped out in sixth grade before joining the KVTC.
"He's stuck because he couldn't concentrate, and his parents surrendered, but the good thing they did was get him to the center.
After eight years at the center, Mudassar now doesn't just make wooden bowls, trollies and other accessories. Holz, but has also resumed his studies, ”Farah Deeba, a KVTC teacher.
Another artist, Quratul Ain, a seventh grader, has Down syndrome. Craft training helped her thrive, and she has already won awards in art competitions.
“Quratul Ain has not only established himself as a good artist over the past three years, but is also good at studying,” said Deeba.
KVTC is already planning to open more Jiddat branches. "This is a yiddat," said Mir, the creative director. "We are expanding and want a lot more!"
