Dir knife-making industry on the decline

PESHAWAR: The increase in the prices of raw material, low income and lack of interest by the government are stated to be the main reasons for the dwindling business of manufacturing traditional knives in Upper Dir district.

Dir is famous for the locally handmade knives and the local people until recently gifted the traditional souvenir to their friends, but the business is now rapidly shrinking.Safiullah, 45, who learnt the art of manufacturing knives from his maternal uncle, recalled that when Nawab Shah Jehan Khan, the son of Nawab Sharif Khan got power from the then Nawab Umara Khan of Dir, he established a factory for manufacturing arms, knives, swords, daggers and knives for which he brought experts from far-flung areas.

The local experts, he said, were preparing best quality of guns, swords, axes and daggers for war. He said later they introduced small knives for use in various kinds of daily work.The small knives, he said, were being prepared from the pieces of remains of swords and daggers. He added these good quality knives became popular in due course of time.

The “cut edge” small knife was particularly famous. Later, the craftsmen were able to inscribe some words, particularly Dir on the knives. When the state of Dir was merged into Pakistan in 1969, the local experts started preparing the knives in their homes instead of factories.

Safiullah said the women also helped make knives and became experts.Dir knives are still in demand. Some of the materials used in making the knives were earlier brought from Wazirabad in Punjab but are now purchased in China. Safiullah said they have been getting rough blades, colour Formica, and petal from China for the last eight to 10 years.

Manufacturing techniques have enabled the craftsmen to make knives faster and of a better quality, but it requires hard work, the raw materials are now expensive and the income is low.Some of the craftsmen said the number of shops selling the knives have decreased and the shopkeepers don’t pay them a decent price.

Nowsherwan Khan, a 60-year old craftsman who still prepares best quality knives, said a knife costs about Rs70 and it was sold for Rs100 to Rs120. “I earn Rs30 to Rs35 only per knife. However, there aren’t many customers,” he lamented. He said they could produce more if the government provided them facilities and ensured regular supply of electricity.

The loadshedding and low voltage of electricity, he said, had affected their business.A local journalist, Mohammad Qasim, observed that knife-making was on the decline as the government has yet to support the craftsmen. “The government need to revive it to generate jobs,” he added.