Srinagar, Aug 14: Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s General Administration Department in an order issued on 13 August announced that Mehmood Ahmad Shah, JKAS, the current Director, Industries and Commerce, Kashmir, will be the new Director, Handloom and Handicrafts Department, Kashmir.
Official sources told Ziraat Times that Mr Shah, a senior JKAS officer, will be assuming office with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, handicrafts and hanlooms manufacturing and trading associations have expressed their happiness for Mr Mehmood’s assuming the leadership of the department again.
“Shah sahab injected a new lease of life into the department during his time as Director of Handicrafts Department. However, he left early, even as many initiatives were still in pipeline. With him being back, the sector is feeling a new energy”, Abdul Shaban, a Handicrafts maker from Srinagar said.
“Proactive marketing, curbs on fake handicraft products, special incentives to artisans and operationalsing GI system for Handicrafts were some of the major contributions of Mehmood Shah Sahab. We are expecting him to assume his new role with the same vision and vigour as before”, Faisal Khan, an e-trader of Kashmir handicrafts said.
Pertinently, after facing a market slump for a few years, handicrafts sector in Kashmir is again showing of revival, especially due to introduction of improved quality checks and revival of some semblance of market demand.
