Panels & Furniture Asia March/April 2024

IN PERSON
Wood-Mizer sawmills help
cultivate growth and
women’s empowerment
in Pakistan
Silk Road trading route between China
and Europe. She learned much from
foreign consultants with expertise in
renovating and reconstructing heritage
sites, gaining skills such as topographic
and architectural surveying and
drafting. In 2008, the Norwegian
embassy, a supporter of the Aga Khan
Trust for Culture, visited Gilgit-Baltistan
and was impressed by the unique
woodworking skills demonstrated by
the young women in the Hunza Valley.
Ciqam, a Pakistani
furniture
manufacturer, aims
to help women
achieve economic
independence
Ciqam Green Solutions, also known
as Ciqam, operates in the far north of
Pakistan, near China, specifically in the
Hunza Valley. This region is known for its
mountains and villages, approximately
2,500m above sea level. Once ruled by
princes, the Hunza Valley is rich with
heritage sites.
Ciqam translates to “green” in
Burushaski, symbolising growth and
prosperity. Ciqam is committed to
empowering women, promoting gender
equality, and fostering sustainability.
Wood-Mizer had the opportunity to
speak with Aqeela Bano, the CEO of
Ciqam, to gain insight into how the
company is helping women in Pakistan
overcome social and cultural obstacles
to achieve economic empowerment.
“We used to collaborate with an
agency of the Aga Khan Cultural
Services Pakistan (AKCSP) that
focuses on preserving and promoting
cultural heritage sites,” said Aqeela.
“The project’s goal was to create
opportunities for young women
from poor households in heritage
development projects for AKCSP. The
women would work in jobs such as
carpentry, plumbing, and masonry,
largely considered men’s jobs in
Pakistan, challenging the traditional
view of femininity.”
Aqeela joined AKSCP as a trainee at
a young age when the organisation
was renovating a 1,100-year-old Altit
Fort, one of the oldest monuments of
Gilgit-Baltistan, that overlooked the
Sponsored by the Norwegian embassy,
the group had the opportunity to
visit Norway for two weeks to learn
from woodworkers and gain insights
from their practices. The embassy
supported Ciqam in their journey,
providing financial assistance
from 2008-2016, just enough time
to establish themselves as an
independent business.
“During this visit we first saw a
Wood-Mizer machine and were
impressed by its capabilities,” shared
Aqeela. “Upon returning to Pakistan,
we were grateful to learn that the
Norwegian Embassy had decided
to donate a machine to us, and we
were hopeful that it would be a
Wood-Mizer.”
“Today, we proudly say we are running
our own business as independent
women. This aligns with one of
the central goals of our project:
empowering women to take charge
of their lives and contribute to the
economy.”
MARCH / APRIL 2024 | PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA 19