Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) conduct a combined study to monitor the COVID-19 effects on domestic industries, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry announced.

In a series of tweets, Chaudhry said: “Pakistan Science Foundation and HEC  are launching a combined study to monitor how COVID-19 effects on domestic industries, and to list up which new industries will emerge and which will collapse.”

Chaudhry said that the HEC, upon the conclusion of the study, will issue guidelines to universities to bring relevant changes in their programs.

In Pakistan, cottage or household industries hold an important position in the rural set-up. Most villages are self-sufficient in the basic necessities of life

. They have their own carpenters, cobblers, potters, craftsmen, and cotton weavers. Many families depend on cottage industries for income.

Cottage industries have also gained immense importance in cities and towns. There is a great demand for hand-woven [carpet]s, embroidered work, brassware, rugs, and traditional bangles. These are also considered important export items and are in good demand in international markets.

There is a web of cottage and book industries. In almost every village, there are a number of such industries depending upon the size of the village and the demand for the products.

The establishment of such an industry is closely related to the availability of raw material traditional skills, climatic conditions, and, in several cases, the local specialization in the organized factory sector.

There is a large variety of handicrafts available in Pakistan. They are not only aesthetically pleasing items, but they also serve the needs of local people.

Some of these industries produce important export items. Recently exports of non-cotton products have faced increasing trade barriers as public opinion in industrialized countries has expressed growing concern about child labor, environmental and health standards. These concerns are being addressed now.

Cotton is the raw material required for this industry. They also employ women for the production of fine hand-woven carpets and for the production of wool silk or a mixture of the two, as the carpets are of great significance which generates equal economic opportunities. It is valuable for the gross domestic product of the country.