Tahafuz, a society of local artisans from Kashmir, facilitated by the Crafts Development Institute overcame opposition from across the border to clinch the GI tag for Pashmina Shawl. According to news reports, the GI registry in Chennai did not entertain the case of Islamabad as Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce submitted a delayed response. Further the news report revels that the GI registration for Pashmina Shawl is a result of a settlement programme with a non-government organization, Kashmir Handmade Pashmina Promotion Trust – a grouping of artisans supported by Wildlife Trust of India. It petitioned the registry saying that GI should be only given to the handmade shawl and not to those where there is any kind of mechanical intervention. As a truce, the GI registration was issued in two categories. In the first category, the entire process of shawl making would be handmade using vegetable colours and in the second category certain mechanical processes evolved over the decades would be permitted with both vegetable and chemical colours.

Kani Shawl, the famous precious ring shawls, weaved by top-notch artisans in Kanihama Village also received a GI tag with ‘Sozni’ remaining in the fray, according to the news report. Pakistan’s opposition to the Sozni GI has been entertained by the registry.

The stakeholders are expecting a triggering of value addition in the products with the GI tag especially if there is a serious effort for brand promotion and general awareness among the traditional buyers.