Srinagar ,15 April (KNS): Advocating for revival of Kashmiri handicrafts sector, Haji Muhammad Sidique Baqal, President, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, said that the administration headed by Lieutenant Governor should seriously formulate policies to get traders out of the problems faced by them. Baqal, President while inaugurating a showroom called "Balla and Bloom" in Khanyar area of Downtown city, said that Kashmiri handicrafts are a lifeline of the valley's economy.

" Kashmir has an irreversible relationship with civilization and culture", Baqal Said.

Im a statement issued to kashmir news service (KNS),he said that the situation of traders and artisans in the handicraft sector has been deteriorating for the last several years as the authorities have not taken any serious plan for the revival of the sector.

He said some traders  also tarnished the image of Kashmiri handicrafts, which brought the sector into disrepute and cost thousands of dependent families. He urged the people associated with the sector to keep an eye on the unscrupulous traders who are hurting not only the sector but also the Kashmiri civilization. Haji Mohammad Sadiq Baqal said on the occasion that traders have faced a lot of difficulties during the last two years, and the economy here is on the verge of collapse, but he said that it is the responsibility of the government headed by the lieutenant governor to get the traders out of this situation.

Earlier, inaugurating the showroom, Haji Mohammad Sadiq Baqal congratulated Abid Hussain, owner of the showroom and said that setting up a trade unit even in these circumstances is an encouraging step. On this occasion, KTMF General Secretary Shahid Hussain Mir also appealed to the traders to sell only those pure products as Kashmiri shawls have a place of their own internationally. KTMF Senior Vice President Sheikh Hilal and Vice President Haji Nisar Ahmed were also present on the occasion.(KNS)