Industries:
The installation of industries depends upon the following items:
- The production of raw materials
- The availability of cheap labor
- The means of communication
- The favor ability of climatic conditions
- The law and order situation
In Swat, all the former four elements are available in abundance, but unfortunately, the fifth item is totally absent, and Swat is intensely poor in political point of view. Therefore, we cannot find a single factory or mill installed by the government.
A program for the installation of a "Match Factory" was made. The selected site for the factory was Manglor, but that program was canceled, and the factory shifted to somewhere else. Now the whole timber are smuggled out of the borders of Swat. The hides and skins are sent as raw materials to the tanneries outside Swat.
China clay is transported to Shaidu Complex, a site 100 miles away from the border of Swat and 150 miles from the source. Only a refinery has been built in the vicinity of the mine.
As the climatic conditions favor the silk factories, so, the Late Wali of Swat (may his soul be in peace) had permitted everyone to install tax-free silk factories, so that the local residents may earn their livelihood. Since then, the competition started, and in a span of time, the industrial area of Rahimabad, and Amankoat came into existence. The largest silk weaving mills planted in Hudigram. The small factories were set up in Mingora, Naway Kalay, Kabal and Bara Bandai. The number reached to more than 100.
Unfortunately, Swat merged in Pakistan in 1969, and all the factories affected seriously, with the freshly arrived politics. The number of factories decreased to a few and the production dropped to zero. Now, many of the buildings are either evacuated halls without looms, or they have looms but no raw materials. Presently, the best democratic governments imposed cumbersome taxes, so the industrialists cannot run the factories, and hordes of labors became jobless.
Handicrafts:
The handicrafts of Swat are very famous. When a tourist visits Swat, he accumulates bundles of these articles as gifts for his friends. All of the crafts prepared here are interesting, especially, the following are very charming.
Woolen Blankets:
These blankets are known as "Sharai". They are prepared of wool obtained from the local sheep. The weight of a medium size blanket is four kilos. This is the best source of defense from the severity of winter. It is woven in Dewlai, Kala Kalay, Salampur, Puran, and Ghurband. These villages prepare the items on commercial scale.
Shawl:
Shawl is a younger brother of Sharai, as it is also a woolen sheet, but light in weight. Sometimes, cotton is also mixed in its texture. It is beautifully fringed, and is commonly used by ladies. The tourists like it too much. Shawls are prepared in Salampur and Dewlai "Jolabad" on commercial bases.
Rugs:
The next important thing, made of local fleece with laborious work, is rug. This is prepared in the villages by pressing wool with the help of water spray. After preparation, it is beautified with the usage of various colors. Rugs are the traditional carpets of shepherds, but now are used everywhere.
Embroidery:
The embroidery of Swat is very famous, and is liked everywhere in Pakistan, as well as by the out-comers. This art is an indoor hobby of the ladies in Swat. Particularly in Nekpikheil, this is so common that very younger girls might also be seen having needlework in their hands. There are three types of embroidery:
- Silken thread work
- Cotton thread work
- Golden lace work
The small girls can do the cotton thread, and golden lace work easily, but there is difficulty in silk thread work. In this work the threads of warp and woof of the cloth are counted, and with the help of calculation the work is carried on. As the young girls have no such maturity of mind, they cannot do this work. So for as the golden lace work is concerned, this is a twofold work; one type of the work is done with needle, while the other is done with owl. The needlework is carried on all over the Swat, especially in Nekpikheil, and Charbagh, but the owl embroidery is at Bara Bandai, and Koza Bandai (Nekpikheil).
Among the prepared articles, sheets for bed covering, tablecloths, pillows, shirts, tea-cozy, and caps are famous. Knitting is the next hobby of the small girls of the villages.
Charbagh is famous for the art of caps.
Panrae or Panhey:
Panrey or Panrhey is the old fashion of shoes, still used by the old persons in Swat. They are made in Swat with the simply tanned leather. The cobblers have great skill in the formation of ladies shoes with golden lace work. Similarly, the sandals with golden lace work are also made. The cobblers of Shahderai had great skill in this field. It is now archaic.
Shkor:
A Shkor is a pot in which chapatis (plate bread used in India and Pakistan) are kept. The ordinary Shkors are prepared everywhere in Swat, but a special design is made in Puran and Chagharzee (These Shkors are high-based pots made of wheat stalks with laborious art, not easily available in bazaar).
Furniture:
Furniture of various styles is made in the district. The cots, tables, chairs, dressing tables, cradles of more advanced types, etc. are furnished in Mingora, and in nearly all large villages.
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