Faryal Kehkashan is a development professional and innovator blending technology, cultural entrepreneurship, and community impact. She serves as a Development Fellow at Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, working on national tech transformation initiatives including STED, AI policy, and youth engagement. She also leads innovation as Chief Innovation Officer at HUNARMANDAN, where she launched HunarMarket, empowering artisans through digital commerce.
Faryal Kehkashan is a forward‑thinking leader at the intersection of technology, innovation, and cultural entrepreneurship. Currently serving as a Development Fellow within Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, she contributes to transformative national programs such as the Science, Technology, and Engineering for Development (STED) initiative, the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force, URAAN‑Pakistan digital transformation efforts, and international partnerships focused on youth engagement and sustainable development.
In parallel, Faryal champions creative economies as the Chief Innovation Officer at HUNARMANDAN Centre for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship. She successfully launched HunarMarket, a digital marketplace that empowers artisans and creative entrepreneurs by amplifying their access to modern branding, e‑commerce opportunities, and global markets. In recognition of this impact, HUNARMANDAN received the Iconic Women Award ’24 by HerStartup for its visionary work in uplifting creative communities.
Faryal’s professional journey spans development organizations, non‑profits, and tech‑focused institutions — including Accelerate Prosperity (AKDN), UNDP, and Helping Hand for Relief and Development — where she honed her expertise in program design, capacity building, data‑driven innovation, youth empowerment, and sustainable growth.
Her personal story adds powerful depth to her professional accomplishments. Raised in an underrepresented region and a conservative environment where education was not always prioritized, Faryal overcame significant challenges to pursue her degree from a local university and later expanded her worldview through a U.S. exchange program. These experiences strengthened her conviction to create opportunity and impact at scale.
As a youth leader, she has worked extensively to promote entrepreneurship, IT skills, and digital literacy, and currently serves as Chairperson of the Chitral Freelancing Association, advocating for community empowerment and economic inclusion. At the Ministry of Planning in Islamabad, her focus remains on driving youth development initiatives that reach underserved communities across Pakistan.
One of Faryal’s proudest achievements is the launch of HunarMarket — a platform that not only creates economic opportunities for artisans but also preserves cultural heritage through technology‑enabled commerce. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to leveraging technology, education, and innovation to uplift communities and ensure equitable access to opportunity for all.
