Reference Post: Bhera’s Forgotten Trade Legacy
Mr Farooq Azam Piracha of Bhera has shared some old rubles from the period of the Russian Empire (pre-Revolution era). His family has carefully preserved these as cherished reminders of their ancestors who traded with the Central Asian States before the Bolshevik Revolution.
These rubles are more than old currency; they are tangible evidence of the commercial links established by traders of Bhera—particularly the Khawajans and Pirachgans—with regions as distant as Russia. Long before modern transport and banking, merchants from Bhera travelled across caravan routes, sustaining trade networks that connected Punjab with Central Asia and beyond.
Inspired by the prosperous trading ventures of Bhera’s people to far-flung regions over generations, Maheen Mumtaz has created commemorative postcards and bookmarks. It is hoped that through these efforts, the younger generation will rediscover and take pride in Bhera’s rich mercantile heritage.
Zaebsitehid Mumtaz
