19/11/2025
Emerging CEOs MeetUp Chitral - 2025 in Booni Concludes with Strong Participation and Powerful Feedback from Young and Women Entrepreneurs
Booni, Upper Chitral — The Emerging CEOs Meetup Season II concluded today at TMA Hall Booni with an impressive turnout of young entrepreneurs, women business owners, market representatives, and members of the local media. The event, hosted under the Emerging Business Initiative (EBI), brought together voices from across the district to openly discuss the challenges, opportunities, and future direction of entrepreneurship in Upper Chitral.
A delegation of women entrepreneurs from the Women Market of Booni attended the session and shared firsthand experiences of running small and growing businesses in a male-dominated environment. They spoke about hurdles such as limited mobility, lack of training opportunities, advertisement issues, and the absence of a supportive market ecosystem. They also emphasized the need for skill-based training, financial literacy, and business management support to strengthen their enterprises.
Representatives from the general market, including the President of the Trade Union, also highlighted persistent issues faced by shopkeepers and small business owners. Key concerns included poor product availability, inadequate site management, male attendants dominating retail spaces, lack of promotional support, and complaints of nepotism affecting market linkages. Participants noted that certain markets had been established without proper planning or centralized oversight, making it difficult for businesses to grow sustainably.
Another issue raised was the administrative interference in routine business operations, often affecting pricing decisions and limiting the autonomy of local shopkeepers. Market leaders stressed the importance of establishing clear communication channels between the business community and the district administration.
The meetup also reviewed feedback regarding initiatives previously supported by development partners.
In response to the issues raised, the Senior Vice President of the Chitral Chamber of Commerce & Industry assured participants that the Chamber would take these concerns forward at the policy level. He committed to initiating dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including the district administration, development organizations, and market committees, to build a more enabling environment for entrepreneurship. He also announced that a Chamber Office for Upper Chitral would be established soon to ensure regular engagement and support for local businesses.
Women entrepreneurs welcomed the recent support shown by the Deputy Commissioner Upper Chitral, who has already taken interest in promoting women-led enterprises. Under his guidance, a series of record-keeping and bookkeeping trainings for women market shopkeepers will be arranged to enhance their financial management practices and build stronger business foundations.
Participants also proposed exposure visits for young entrepreneurs, allowing them to observe functioning business models in other regions and learn from established enterprises.
The meetup ended on a positive and forward-looking note, with all stakeholders expressing their commitment to collaboration and problem-solving. The organizers thanked the participants for their candid feedback and reaffirmed that such engagements will continue under the Emerging Business Initiative to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Upper Chitral.
