**Canadian High Commission Officials Visit GAC-Funded BEST4WEER Project Initiatives in Chitral**
Senior officials from the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad have completed a comprehensive visit to project activities implemented under the Global Affairs Canada (GAC)-funded BEST4WEER initiative in Upper and Lower Chitral. The delegation, which included Mr. Luke Myers, Head of Aid, and Ms. Sasha Oliveira, Second Secretary, reviewed a range of interventions supporting rural development, women’s economic empowerment, and gender equality across multiple communities in the region.
The visiting Canadian officials were accompanied by leadership from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Pakistan, including CEO Mr. Akhtar Iqbal, Rural Development Advisor Irshad Khan Abbasi, Director of Partnerships Felix Kurz, and Programme Lead Amin Beg. Over the course of the visit, the team explored project initiatives located throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper and Lower Chitral districts.
In Booni, Upper Chitral, the delegation toured innovative enterprises such as the Passive Solar Greenhouse, Needle Point, Booni Enterprise, the Women-Only Market, and Jimmy’s Kitchen. They also interacted with beneficiaries who received microgrants to support local entrepreneurship and livelihoods.
The team’s activities in Chitral town included site visits to Hub-Be-Connect, Chitral Natural Farms, and Suha Apparels, all key projects leveraging local resources and skills for community benefit. The delegation then travelled to Bumburet in the Kalash Valley, where they assessed ongoing interventions such as the Trout Fish Farm, employer-led training at the Kalasha Gems and Jewellery Centre, and women-owned shops in Krakal village. An additional highlight was a tour of Ishpata News, a local media outlet amplifying women’s voices in the community.
Continuing their tour, the officials travelled to Broze to engage with the women-headed Hindukush Integrated Development Organisation (HIDO), which implements gender-responsive programming. Here, they held discussions with community representatives and local development stakeholders.
A significant feature of the visit was participation in the Community of Practice – Gender Equality Transformative Alliance (GETA) activity. Ms. Sasha Oliveira inaugurated the new Rug Weaving and Shawl Making Production Centre, established by the BEST4WEER project in partnership with the Government Social Welfare Department, marking a milestone in women’s economic empowerment in the region.
Additionally, the delegation met with Youth Internship Programme (YIP) interns and fellows, as well as Master Trainers conducting Life Skills sessions under the project, highlighting BEST4WEER’s commitment to youth engagement and capacity-building.
The visit underscored the Canadian government’s support for sustainable development and gender equality initiatives in Chitral, and reaffirmed its partnership with local organisations working for inclusive, community-led progress.
