PESHAWAR: The Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Peshawar Division (WCCIPD), has recognised women entrepreneurs from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their contribution to business growth, employment, innovation and social development at the Women Business Excellence Awards 2026.
The ceremony brought together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, government representatives, development partners and members of the wider business community, with awards presented across sectors including manufacturing, services, technology, fashion, retail, exports, training, startups and social impact.
UNICEF supported the event as the main partner, adding a social-impact component focused on the wider link between women’s economic participation, family well-being and community development.
As part of the partnership, the UNICEF–WCCIPD CSR Award was presented to Huma Mohsin, CEO and Managing Director of Mohsin Match Factory Ltd., for her contribution to corporate social responsibility.
Muzzammil Aslam, Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on finance, attended the event as chief guest. WCCIPD said continued cooperation between government and the private sector remained essential for strengthening the environment for women-led businesses.
The top honour, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, went to Fatima Nouman Khan of FnK Creations.
Other recipients included Urooj Sana of Urooj Sana Textile Studio for Emerging Woman Entrepreneur, Nosheen Tahir of Elora by N for Startup Excellence, Afshan Khan of FastMove Packages for Excellence in Manufacturing, and Kulsoom Sheryar of Eventagious for Excellence in Services.
Mashaal Javed of STEMverse received the Excellence in Technology award, while Tajallah Khalid of Tajo Collection Boutique was recognised for Excellence in Fashion.
Awards were also presented to Asia Gul of Get Grooms Beauty Parlour & Vocational Training Institute for Training and Development, Saima Amjad of Fascino Couture by Saima for Social Impact, Tahira of Artisian Emporium for Export Excellence, and Hina Saqib of Al Jasmine Private Limited as Highest Taxpayer.
Other award winners included Shazia Chughtai of Zarnesh LLC for Retail, Samina Ahmad of Pariz Beauty Salon for the Beauty Industry, Saira Gillani of Derma Passion for Organic and Natural Products, Zaara Imtiaz of Peacock GÜZEL The Salon & Training Institute for Women Excellence, and Zubia Amir of Glossy Beauty Salon for Business Innovation.
Speaking at the ceremony, WCCIPD President Qurat-ul-Ain said women entrepreneurs were playing an increasingly important role in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economy and needed stronger access to finance, technology, markets, skills, business networks and institutional support.
She said women-led enterprises should be seen not merely as beneficiaries of economic programmes, but as contributors to employment, investment, innovation, trade and inclusive growth.
The event also featured addresses by business and chamber leaders, including former and founding WCCIPD office-bearers, as well as representatives of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Businessmen Forum.
The Bank of Khyber was recognised as silver partner of the event for supporting initiatives aimed at improving women entrepreneurs’ access to financial and business opportunities.
WCCIPD also recognised Ghazanfar Bilour, Muzzammil Aslam and Amjad Ali Arbab of the KP Seed Rise Fund as enablers for their engagement with women entrepreneurship and economic development initiatives.
The ceremony included tributes to the institutional legacy of WCCIPD and recognised former chamber leaders for their contribution to advancing women’s participation in economic life.
A tribute was also paid to late Fitrath Ilyas Bilour, former president, chairperson and patron-in-chief of WCCIPD, with the KP Women Legend Award presented in recognition of her contribution and legacy.
WCCIPD said its broader objective was to help more women-led enterprises formalise, expand, enter new markets, create jobs and make a sustained contribution to the provincial and national economy.