Srinagar, Sep 11: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has welcomed the inauguration of the Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory at SKUAST-Kashmir’s Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, calling it a landmark step for the Valley’s Pashmina industry.
The Chamber said the laboratory will safeguard the purity and authenticity of Pashmina, providing scientific testing and certification to protect artisans and stakeholders from imitation products and strengthen consumer confidence in domestic and international markets.
KCCI also appreciated the distribution of Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms among artisan clusters in Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, and Srinagar by the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT). The upgraded looms are expected to enhance weaving precision, increase productivity, and improve working conditions for artisans who have long used outdated equipment.
Recalling earlier distributions of modern looms, KCCI said the initiative had already increased efficiency, reduced physical strain, and improved the quality of finished carpets. The Chamber called for expanding the scheme to reach more artisan families across the Valley.
Union Textiles Secretary Neelama Shami Rao assured that a proposal for procuring 500 additional looms by the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, is under active consideration. KCCI urged swift government approval to directly boost artisan incomes and secure the future of the heritage craft.
The Chamber also commended the efforts of Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh; Director, Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir, Mussrat Islam; and Director, IICT, Zubair Ahmad, describing their work as a commitment to strengthening Kashmir’s artisan-based economy.
KCCI expressed hope that these developments will be supported by sustained institutional measures, including research and development, artisan welfare, skill development, and international market linkages.
