AHAN Team

AHAN EVENTS

AHAN Display Center Launch / Press Conference held on July 18, 2008, at WBIC

AHAN organized a press conference on 18th July 2008 at the Women Business Incubation Center, SMEDA. People from the leading newspapers and electronic media were present to gain information with respect to AHAN and its outcomes and to disseminate it to the public. This center has already been inaugurated on the 23 June 2008 by Mr. Shahid Rashid CEO, SMEDA.

The center displays AHAN’s modern yet culturally representative products from the four provinces. These products are exclusively hand made; of premium quality and at reasonable rates. They constitute different sectors such as Textiles, Jewellery, Ceramics, Wooden and Leather products. Therefore, AHAN intends to support the corporate clientele with easily accessible hand made products and propose for further cooperation for the uplift of the communities at the same time through this respective center.

People can visit the display center for a detailed snap shot of the souvenir products we proposed.

The address of AHAN display center is as follows:

Women Business Incubation Center
AHAN Products Display Center
1st Floor, Abu Zar Tower, Peco Road Lahore
Tel: 042 5166040, 042 5167980

SAAI Revival Collection 08 in collaboration with Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (AHAN) On 11 April 08 at 10 Q, Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC), Gulberg Lahore

A press conference -cum- fashion show was held at Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) the other day, by Ms. Sahar Atif, designer Saai, in collaboration with AHAN that has played a pivotal role in defining Sahar Atif’s sense of Social Entrepreneurship. The passion for revival of craft and empowerment of marginalized rural women was shared by both the entities, which makes this project a source of pride for both. The event has a symbolic importance to highlight the fact that liaison between the designers and rural craft persons can yield amazing results not only in empowering rural artisans but also bringing pride to the country.

The participants included Mr. Shahid Rashid, CEO SMEDA, Mr. Suhail Aamir CEO AHAN, Mr. Naveed Sheikh, Regional Coordinator – Punjab AHAN, Ms. Seema Aziz from Bareeze, Ms. Seher Saigol from PFDC & Libas, Ms. Khadija from Generation, Mr Ovais Mazhar from PSFD, Ms. Hina Tayyaba from PSFD and Mian Kashif from Chen One.

Mr. Shahid Rashid, CEO SMEDA congratulated her on this occasion for contributing and consolidating the traditional economic sectors into new niche markets through this event.

Launch of Sillanwali Lacquer Art Project

The formal launch of the project website was held on March 17, 2008, Monday at Sillanwali Municipal Administration Hall, Sargodha District. It was chaired by Raja Changez Shaukat Kyani, Tehsil Nazim, Sillanwali and attended by the beneficiaries of the project.

The website had been operated since then by our Cluster Development Office at Sillanwali, however had been updated by the Head Office.

Women Expo Lahore

AHAN participated in Women Expo Lahore held from 9th - 11th March 2007. This was an opportunity for AHAN and its Stakeholders to make people aware about the activitiesof the pilot projects and display proto-types produced by rural craftswomen. AHAN also organized a seminar which was graced by the presence of Federal Minister of Industries, Production & Special Initiatives Mr. Jahangir Khan Tareen along with famous designers Mr. Deepak Perwani & Mr. Rizwan Baig, during the seminar core information about AHAN was presented to the guests and also the contribution of the Stakeholders was explained in detail.

Exhibition

Women Empowerment through
Traditional Handicraft of Balochistan

Date: June 22, 2007
Venue: Officers Club Quetta
Partner Organizers: Social Welfare & Women Development Department of Balochistan and AHAN

A 2-day exhibition was held at Officers Club Quetta on June 20-21, 2007 organized by Women Development Wing, Social Welfare Department as final activity of National Program of Action (NPA) in collaboration with AHAN. Chief Secretary of Balochistan inaugurated the exhibition. Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development and Special Education, Mrs. Parveen Magsi, Secretary Social Welfare, Secretary Social welfare, Deputy Secretary Ms Shahina Ahmed and coordinator National Plan of Action (NPA) Ms. Shumail and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

A total nine partner organizations with AHAN team exhibited their products at the venue. A team of product development and marketing department from head office Lahore visited the exhibition to assess project potential a provide inputs for future direction. A volunteer design and marketing team was also engaged from Quetta to undertake product development and marketing survey.

On the occasion, following activities were performed keeping in view the objective of product development.

Market Survey:

• A market survey questionnaire was developed to get feedback and judge market demand for displayed products. Before the exhibition, the volunteer marketing team had a detailed meeting with RC AHAN in which survey questionnaire was discussed.
• The volunteer survey team performed the activity and had the questionnaire filled through the views of the guests. Most of the beholders showed great interest in the product display.

Product Development:

• The products were examined, analyzed and profiled by designers of Balochistan. The volunteer designers keenly observed the products of the artisans, presented by partner organizations on their stalls. They showed great interest in the products and selected one product to work with as individual product development project. The designers also shared their ideas with artisans.
• From each Pavilion, some samples were selected for product review meeting to be held on July 31, 2007 in Karachi.

Volunteer Designer Team:

1. Mr. Zeeshan Jamali Third Year NCA Lahore
2. Ms. Fauzia Niaz Master of Visual Arts NCA Lahore
3. Ms. Fauzia Ali Master of fine Arts NCA Lahore
4. Ms. Erum Bachelors of communication/Graphic design NCA Lahore
5. Ms. Ayesha Sajid BFA Balochistan University Quetta
6. Ms. Sabika Bukhari BFA Balochistan University Quetta
7. Ms. Ambreen Hussain BFA Balochistan University Quetta
8. Ms. Shazia Batool BFA Balochistan University Quetta
9. Mr. Asad Ali BFA Balochistan University Quetta
10. Mr. M. Asif Student NCA Lahore
11. Mr. Mehdi Student NCA Lahore

Closing Ceremony of Hand Embroidery Training Workshop in Bahawalpur

AHAN organized a 15 days days training program in collaboration with Mr. Rizwan Baig, BRDP, CDC and PSIC. The purpose of the project is to enhance embroidery skills of the women in the areas of Bahawalpur and to increase the demand of traditional embroidery, which will result in job creation in Bahawalpur region. At the end of the succesful completion, AHAN awarded the certificates to the participants of the workshop. The closing ceremony was graced by the presence of DCO Bahawalpur Mr. Muhammad Ashraf.