LocationsIndigenous artistry meets sustainable development in Gilgit-Baltistan
A Loom of Dreams in Kuti Pari
December 10, 2024
A skilled artisan knitting gloves with loom-spun wool thread.
In the rugged terrain of Kuti Pari, a small village in district Gilgit of Pakistan, a tale of resilience and transformation is being woven – quite literally.
15 years ago, migrants from Kohistan settled in Kuti Pari, dreaming of a better life. Among them was Amina, a 50-year-old mother of nine daughters. Completely new to the village and burdened by financial constraints, she faced the daily grind of survival with quiet determination.
“With my husband unemployed and nine daughters to care for, we struggled even for basic necessities. We couldn’t afford our girls’ education and some days, even three meals a day were a blessing.”Amina
But despite her circumstances, she possessed a remarkable talent – processing wool and crafting handmade products, an indigenous craft passed down from her mother. But the absence of viable conditions and resources made pursuing this skill seem impossible.
“We had to travel long distances to access thread-making machines or sell raw wool at low prices due to high transportation costs. Processing wool manually is labor-intensive and time-consuming, which limits our ability to produce more products and earn a better livelihood,”explained Amina.
Women in wool-processing centers are trained to make thread from wool using UNDP-installed processing units.
That began to change with the establishment of the Wool Processing Center in Kuti Pari, part of UNDP’s Climate Resilience Programme in Pakistan. Equipped with spinning wheels and a loom machine, the center brought the tools and opportunities Amina and her community needed to not only keep their indigenous craft alive but also contribute to their household income.
Amina quickly emerged as a leader, becoming a trainer for others in the village.
“Now, my daughters join me after school, and we craft shawls, waistcoats, gloves, and hats. The center enables us to process wool locally and produce more. We now earn PKR 12,000 per person each month, and during winter, when demand increases, this income grows even more,” Amina shares joyfully.
This extra money has transformed Amina’s household. She nowsends her daughters to school, ensuring they receive the education she never had. Better healthcare is also within reach, and dignity has returned to a family that once teetered on the edge of survival.
The impact of the wool processing center extends far beyond Amina’s household.
14 women and six men from 14 households in Kuti Pari have benefitted from this initiative, each with an average of 8-9 members. Together, they produce high-quality woolen products not only for local markets but also for slightly far-off colder regions such as Siachen.
Finished products crafted from the wool processed in the center.
The center is one of 16 Green Business Centers established by UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative, in partnership with the Gilgit Baltistan Environment Protection Agency (GBEPA) and the Gilgit Baltistan Rural Support Programme (GBRSP). These centers focus on honing different crafts of locals such as the production of biodegradable bags, wool processing, and oil extraction
For Amina, this journey is about more than income — it’s about dignity and empowerment.
“I feel respected among my people now,” she says proudly. “My skills have given me and my daughters a brighter future.”
At the Wool Processing Center in Kuti Pari, every hat, shawl, or glove crafted brings the community one step closer to financial independence. The center aims to empower at least 10,000 individuals across the region as Kuti Pari connects with nine neighboring unions. By blending traditional craftsmanship with sustainable development, the center exemplifies how local resilience can pave the way to dignity, empowerment, and a brighter future.
Story By:
Syeda Zainab
Project Support Coordinator,
Climate Resilience Programme
UNDP Pakistan
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