Peshawar, July 14: Despite being old-fashioned, the traditional burqa, special veil covering women from head to toe, is still in use, mostly by women belonging to rural areas and Afghan refugees.
There are around 40 to 50 shops in different localities of Peshawar which only sell burqas.
“I usually sell 10 to 15 burqas a day the price of which vary between Rs. 500 to Rs 1500 each,” said Saleem Shah, a shop-owner while talking to APP.
Salim Shah has been selling burqa for the last 15 years and is well satisfied from the income he earns from this business. Known as ‘Topi wala burqa’ (veil with cap), it is prepared by local people. The veil used by local people is different from the one used by Afghan refugees, Salim said. “Local people like well pressed and embroidered burqa, while the Afghans like burqa with a special crease on it,” he added.
The cloth being used for preparation of burqa is imported from Indonesia and is bought from adjacent tribal area, he added. Salim also said that the use of black burqa which is known as ‘Kuwaiti burqa’ which covers the body with Hijab on face is also increasing.
The Kuwaiti burqa is mostly used by women of urban localities.
–agencies