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Passu cherry show gives Hunza entrepreneurs a stage to showcase wares
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Culture & Society

Passu cherry show gives Hunza entrepreneurs a stage to showcase wares

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • The six-day Passu Cherry Exhibition in Upper Hunza generated over Rs2 million in economic activity.
  • The event provided a platform for local farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, particularly women, to showcase and sell their products directly to national and foreign buyers.
  • Tourists visited the scenic region, contributing to the success of the exhibition and promoting local brands.

The scenic tourist destination of Passu in Upper Hunza recently hosted a six-day "Passu Cherry Exhibition," which concluded on Saturday, generating over Rs2 million in economic activity. Organizers reported significant engagement from both domestic and international visitors, highlighting the event's success in promoting local commerce.

The primary objective of the exhibition was to provide local people with a platform to market their products, strengthen their brands and connect directly with customers from across Pakistan and abroad.

— Junain AkhtarA representative from the Passu Youth and Support Organisation explaining the exhibition's goals.

The exhibition served as a crucial platform for local farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, offering them direct access to customers. This direct interaction aimed to strengthen their brands and facilitate sales to markets across Pakistan and abroad. Passu, known for its breathtaking landscapes and iconic Passu Cones, leveraged its status as a popular tourist hub to create these opportunities.

Passu is a tourism hub, and local entrepreneurs are now building brands that can compete in wider markets.

— Junain AkhtarDescribing the growing entrepreneurial landscape in Passu.

Women played a particularly prominent role, managing a majority of the stalls and showcasing handmade products. For many vendors, like stall owner Shaista Salman, the exhibition provided much-needed market access. "This exhibition brought customers together under one roof and gave us the opportunity to earn directly," she stated. Graduate student Bibi Heleema, 22, used the summer vacation to display gemstones and handicrafts, noting the income would support her education.

We usually have limited access to markets. This exhibition brought customers together under one roof and gave us the opportunity to earn directly.

— Shaista SalmanA stall owner discussing the benefits of direct customer access provided by the exhibition.

Local community leader Asif Sakhi emphasized the limited income sources in the region and called for continued support through similar events. He believes these initiatives stimulate economic activity and bolster local businesses. Tourists like Khatrina from Poland expressed enjoyment of the local food and tea amidst the stunning scenery, underscoring the exhibition's appeal to visitors seeking cultural and natural experiences.

I enjoyed the delicious food and tea amid breathtaking landscape.

— KhatrinaA tourist from Poland sharing her experience at the exhibition.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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