By Faiza Hameed, Business Analyst
In a small town in Upper Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, a young entrepreneur is transforming the local food scene. Syed Mukhtar Khalil Shah’s journey is one of determination and the transformative power of opportunity. Hailing from Yarkhoon, a remote area approximately 150 km from Booni, Syed Mukhtar comes from a financially disadvantaged background. His story is not just about starting a business; it is about overcoming adversity and pioneering change in his community.
Like many young men from remote villages, Syed Mukhtar moved to Booni in search of work to support his family. He found a job as a waiter at a local restaurant, where he worked tirelessly for two years, earning a modest salary of PKR 18,000 per month. As the sole breadwinner, he carried the financial burden of his family, but his ambitions extended beyond waiting tables. While working at the restaurant, he witnessed training sessions and programmes conducted by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in the restaurant’s hall. One particular initiative caught his attention, the START Apna Karobar Programme, which aimed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with business skills and seed funding.
Intrigued, Syed Mukhtar began gathering information about the programme. When the next phase was announced, he applied and was shortlisted. His vision was clear: to establish a dedicated fast-food café in Booni, something the area lacked. With guidance from AKRSP’s bootcamp and advisory training sessions, he refined his business idea and successfully secured a micro-grant, contributing his own savings to bring his dream to life.
This is not just Syed Mukhtar’s story; the flagship START Apna Karobar Programme is being implemented under the Global Affairs Canada-supported BEST4WEER project. The initiative has trained over 3,611 individuals across Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral through bootcamps and provided advanced training to 1,802 participants. A total of 1,725 individuals have taken part in pitch competitions, with 578 promising ideas receiving micro-grants for start-ups. Additionally, 223 entrepreneurs have benefited from post-training mentorship.
In just a few months, Yummy Yummy Café has become a well-known name in the town, filling a major gap in the local market as a dedicated fast-food restaurant. Recognising the evolving preferences of customers, Syed Mukhtar introduced a home delivery service, a completely new concept for Booni, further setting his business apart.
His transition from employee to employer is equally remarkable. Once a waiter, he now runs his own café and has even created job opportunities by hiring another employee. Even in the off-season, his café generates over PKR 100,000 in monthly sales, with gross profits exceeding PKR 30,000. During peak seasons, these figures are expected to rise, solidifying his café’s success.
Syed Mukhtar’s journey exemplifies the power of persistence and the impact of well-structured support programmes. With plans to expand his café and introduce new offerings, he is determined to make Yummy Yummy Café a household name in Booni. His story stands as an inspiration for other young entrepreneurs from remote areas, demonstrating that with the right guidance, financial support, and an unwavering spirit, one can break barriers and create lasting change in their community.
