Aik Hunar Aik Nagar – AHAN operating with the objective of strengthening, development and promoting handmade products of Pakistan since 2007 recently implemented ‘Skills for Employability’ project in collaboration with Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Government of Punjab. Focusing rural areas of Southern Punjab, about 2,000 craft persons from Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh districts were trained. 1,354 women artisans were trained in hand-embroidery skills under the project. To uplift skills of these women and to develop their capacity to produce high-end, quality contemporary products, AHAN involved renowned designers such as Ali Xeshan, Sahar Atif, Sara Salman, Shaiyanne Malik and Turquoise.
To display the work of rural women from these poor areas and to showcase their hand-embroidered products, AHAN has organized a fashion show on 28th September 2012 at Pakistan Institute of Fashion & Design, Lahore. Designating it as “a Tribute to Southern Punjab Embroidery”, AHAN anticipates that through this mega event, these artisans shall be exposed to high-end consumers that will lead to bringing a positive change in the lives of poor people of Southern Punjab.