CHITRAL: The third two-day ‘Chitral Expo’, organised in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Chitral Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), successfully concluded on Sunday evening at a local hotel.
The mega event aimed to showcase the rich cultural heritage, indigenous products and untapped economic potential of the Hindu Kush region, drew a large number of local entrepreneurs, artisans and government officials.
The chief guest of the closing ceremony was Tariq Ahmed, Regional Programme Manager of the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), who distributed shields and certificates among the exhibition participants and stallholders.
Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the resilience and creativity of Chitral’s artisans, particularly women entrepreneurs, who displayed a wide array of unique products ranging from traditional Chitrali Patti (woollen cloth) and hand-woven carpets to organic gems, dried fruits and handicraft.
Addressing the ceremony, TDAP Director General Noman Bashir, SRSP’s Tariq Ahmed, CCCI President Engineer Fawad Azam and women’s business leader from Upper Chitral, Fazeela Azam, declared the expo a huge success.
They stated that this event would prove to be an important milestone in highlighting Chitral’s trade and business potential. They emphasised that connecting local markets with national and international supply chains was vital for sustainable economic growth in the remote region.
Fazeela Azam underscored the challenges confronting women entrepreneurs in the region, emphasising that platforms such as the Chitral Expo play a vital role in enhancing their visibility, fostering business networks and helping them overcome geographical barriers to economic opportunities.
Earlier, heads and high-ranking officials from various government departments and institutions attended a high-level business conference held on the sidelines of the expo. These included representatives from the SRSP, Small Industries Development Board (SIDB), Bank of Khyber and other public and private sector organisations. They described in detail the key roles of their respective institutions in the overall development of Chitral and the promotion of local businesses.
Financial experts and institutional heads discussed accessible credit facilities, technical training programmes and digital marketing strategies tailored for local startups. They reiterated their commitment to providing financial and technical assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost employment.
Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026
