The Sindh government on Tuesday issued a notification banning presentation of traditional Sindhi Ajrak and caps to visitors at school events throughout the province.
The order also prohibits the giving of gifts at official provincial functions and directs school administrations to refrain from having students rise to welcome chief guests.
The notification, distributed to directors, principals, and headmasters of schools, requires the implementation of these regulations with immediate effect.
It announces the practice of using students for the purpose of receiving guests as improper and threatens strict action against any breach of the orders.
Ajrak is a traditional and distinctive block-printed shawl or scarf native to the Pakistani province of Sindh and northern India.
The process of making Ajrak has a history of more than 5,000 years and forms an integral part of Sindhi people’s cultural heritage.
The patterns are so intricately designed that they epitomize the natural features of the environment, such as the sun, moon, and stars.
Ajrak is not only a fabric; it is a symbol of Sindh’s identity. It represents pride and respect for men and glow for women. Sindhi peoples mostly offer Ajrak as a sign of hospitality to the guests.
Ajrak occupies a central position in Sindhi people’s lives, from infancy to death. People employ it as an infant hammock, head cover for girls, bridal ornament, turban, shawl, bed cover, tablecloth, gift article, and a token of respect to welcome guests.
Furthermore, The Sindh Cap, known locally as Sindhi Topi, holds deep cultural and historical significance in the Sindhi identity.
Historians trace its origins back several centuries to the Indus Valley Civilization, where people used early forms of head coverings as symbols of dignity, respect, and social status.
