Onlykashmir.in News Desk
A high-level delegation of stakeholders from Kashmir’s handmade carpet industry, led by prominent businessman Sheikh Ashiq, submitted an urgent representation to the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, raising alarm over the unchecked sale of counterfeit, machine-made carpets falsely marketed as authentic Kashmiri handicrafts.
Sheikh Ashiq, a board director of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) and former president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, was joined by Faiz Nissar (CEPC Regional Office, Srinagar), members of the Kashmir Carpet Cluster Development Organization (KCCDO), and representatives from other key industry associations.
The delegation decried the sale of imported machine-made carpets under the banner of Kashmiri craftsmanship in showrooms registered under “Handlooms” and “Heritage,” warning that this practice is harming the credibility of Kashmir’s globally respected hand-knotting tradition and threatening the livelihood of thousands of artisans.
They demanded immediate government intervention, including:
• A ban on machine-made carpets in handicraft-certified showrooms.
• Mandatory signage to indicate authenticity.
• A joint enforcement task force for regular inspections.
• Higher duties on imported carpets mislabeled as Kashmiri in Indian markets.
Sheikh Ashiq emphasized that this is not just an economic issue but a cultural crisis:
“Our handmade carpets are the soul of Kashmir’s heritage. Allowing fakes to hijack this identity is a betrayal of our artisans and legacy.”
The delegation urged swift government action to preserve the dignity of the craft, protect artisan livelihoods, and restore consumer trust in genuine Kashmiri carpets.
