Celebrating International Women’s Day Traveling in Pakistan with Bunyaad
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Celebrating International Women’s Day Traveling in Pakistan with Bunyaad

ByJenni Leister

On March 8, 2025, we were thrilled to have so many people join us online as Yousaf and Jenni took us with them as they journeyed through Pakistan. Our North American friends met Bunyaad rug artisans and experienced the magic of rug finishing and designing right before their eyes. It was the perfect adventure to…

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Meet rug artisans Parveen and Anwar

ByBunyaad

Bunyaad rug knotter Parveen

We LOVE telling artisan stories. It’s what connects us deeply with the individual people behind each rug that comes and goes through the doors of Bunyaad. Each one of them has their special skill and their unique story.

Take a moment to get to know Parveen, a rug knotter, and Anwar, a rug designer.

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Fair Trade Makes Every Day Women’s Day

ByBunyaad

Celebrating first rug

Artisans go to the local sweet market and grab their favorite mithai (sweets), maybe hot gulab jamun soaking up the sugary sweet cardamon syrup or to the local jalebi vendor who is busy lifting hot, orange mini funnel-cake-like rounds out of their copper pot of bubbling oil as the jalebi head to their own bath of heavenly syrup.

One woman carries a carafe of chai made with her water buffalo’s milk. Another grabs more tea cups from her home. It’s time to celebrate.

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Juggling Family, Household and Work

ByBunyaad

Bunyaad artisans Arshad, Mustaq and family

Let Me Introduce: Arshad

Arshad, usually called by her nickname Bebe, and her family live in the village of Darianwala located approximately six miles from the Indian border in Northeast Pakistan.

Arshad and her husband Mustaq have been working for Bunyaad for the past five years (since 2009). Prior to joining Bunyaad the family had been drifting from place to place in hopes of finding work that would support the entire family. As a woman working outside the home would not have been acceptable for Arshad and so the challenge of providing for the entire family rested on Mustaq’s shoulders.

How does a family in rural Pakistan make ends meet when jobs are scarce and mostly seasonal?