Metal Pots Business Declines As Demand Decreases: Survey

With the changing lifestyles of the citizens, the business of 'metal pots' declined all across the country including Peshawar city as today, glass, stainless steel and non-stick pans and pots have replaced metal pots, traditionally used in Pakistani kitchens in old days.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :With the changing lifestyles of the citizens, the business of 'metal pots' declined all across the country including Peshawar city as today, glass, stainless steel and non-stick pans and pots have replaced metal pots, traditionally used in Pakistani kitchens in old days.

A report aired by a private news channel said, most people no longer buy metal pots for cooking and serving food because the maintenance is very cumbersome. Today, brass items are mostly used for decoration in the homes and offices.

A resident of Qissakhawani Bazaar said, in past good times had dozens of shops that dealt in sale, manufacture and repair of copper and brass products but now the demand of these pots declined.

"Not long ago, tourists used to throng this market and was paying handsomely for hand-made brassware and decorated items," said another retailer Sami Khan, recalling the halcyon days when business in the bazaar was good.

"We now only have 6 to 7 shops as others have switched to more profitable professions," said Azam Khan.

Khan said the copper and brass items made in Peshawar are of two kinds: decoration items and household utensils.

Customers mainly seek engraved brass bowls, brass angels, food steamers, pots and pans and the all-time favorite to brew green tea in the "qahwa" shops that abound around the old city.

A 45 year old Shubana Jamshed at a customer shop, she used to be a regular customer of this bazaar but the rising prices of copper and brass items have forced her to switch to steel, silver, glass and plastic items for domestic use.

In Islamabad city retailers said, "These days our customers ask for silver and steel household utensils instead of taking interest in metal pots".

"They are now our main source of income. No one asks for brass and copper utensils anymore", he added."Shopkeepers with this old related traditional business said the government should provide patronage and platform to help exhibit products of skilled craftsmen at national and international level to save their fading art.

A worker in Super Market polishes a decorative vase using a buffer, which has replaced the traditional kalai or tin coating technique, in some shops said, Locals as well as foreigners living in Pakistan taking interest to buy these pots for decorations and doing brisk business these days in Islamabad.