PK01 – Sialkot Bagpipes

Stitchers: Razia Dean, Zeenut Arshad, Mussarut Munir (Edinburgh, Scotland).

Although we associate the bagpipes with Scotland, the roots of the bagpipe are not unique to Scotland and are linked to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It should not be quite so surprising then that Sialkot in Pakistan has been home to a thriving bagpipes manufacturing business for over a century now, with many small companies in the city making pipes, as well as Highland dress, and exporting them all over the world. Nadeem Bhatti is the CEO of one such business, which was started by his grandfather in 1895, selling bagpipes and Highland dress to British Army regiments. His business grew, says Nadeem, and by 1910 he was the first person to start exporting bagpipes to Scotland! – www.scotland.org/features/tea-to-dumfries-and-bagpipes-from-pakistan/

 PK01 Pìob Mhòr Sialkot
Ged a bhios sinn a’ co-cheangal na Pìoba Mòire ri Alba, chan eil freumhan na pìoba mòire à Alba amhàin agus tha i ceangailte ris an Roinn Eòrpa, an Ear Mheadhanach agus Àisia cuideachd. Mar sin, cha bu chòir dha a bhith na iongnadh gu bheil Sialkot ann am Pagastan air a bhith na dhachaigh do ghnothachas soirbheachail a’ dèanamh phìoban airson còrr agus linn, le mòran chompanaidhean beaga sa bhaile-mhòr sin a’ dèanamh phìoban a thuilleadh air èideadh Gàidhealach, agus gan às-mhalairt air feadh an tsaoghail. Tha Nadeem Bhatti na Àrd-Oifigear air aon de na gnothachasan sin, a chaidh a thòiseachadh le a sheanair ann an 1895, a’ reic phìoban agus èideadh Gàidhealach do rèiseamaidean Arm Bhreatainn. Dh’fhàs an gnothachas aige, tha Nadeem ag ràdh, agus ann an 1910 b’ e a’ chiad neach a thòisich ag àsmhalairt na pìoba mòire a dh’Alba!