Sifat Gul, 31
Best National Female
Region: Chitral, NWFP
Wins Rs. 115,000
Sifat Gul was a housewife dependent on husband’s laborer wages- weary of a hand to mouth existence, she decided to apply for a micro loan and set up her own handicrafts, tailoring and tailor training set up. Despite resistance from in laws she approached the First Microfinance Bank and today she makes Rs. 15,000/ month, employs 10 people and her children attend the best English medium school in the area. Sifat has worked on carving linkages in the market to ensure continuity of sales and she enjoys a prosperous and comfortable lifestyle. Sifat is a source of motivation for other women in her area, many of whom come to her for counseling, training and business advice.
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Muhammad Illyas
Best National Male
Region: Lahore
Wins Rs. 115,000
Muhammad Illyas, with the help of 4 micro loans from Center for Women Cooperative Development (CWCD)managed to increase his monthly income from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 65,000. Armed with the skill of making motor cycle filters, Illyas and his family worked 12-hour days to run the business from within their rented home. An ambitious man, Illyas decided to brand his filters as ‘ Sahara’ and these have been very well received by the market. Today Illyas employs 6 people and has expanded business to set up retail outlets of his own in Lahore’s busy commercial areas. His 6 dependants including parents, wife and 3 children and well cared for and he recently purchased his own 2 storied house.
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Zahra Khadim, 26
Regional Urban Winner
Region: Lahore, Punjab
Wins Rs. 75,000
Zahra employs 8 women from her community as part of her household decorations business. With a monthly income of Rs 10,000, Zahra has, with the help of just 2 small loans, managed to create a niche in the market for her brand of unique products, made from recycled x-ray film. ‘I faced a lot of resistance from the community- a single woman going to a bank was taboo, but I was tired of living hand to mouth and knew deep down that I could make a difference’. Armed with her confidence and her creativity, Zahra got her first micro loan from Orix Leasing and her persistence has paid off.
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Shamshad Bibi, 29
Regional Urban Winner
Region: Lahore, Punjab
Wins Rs. 75,000
May God protect others from the fate that was mine’ muses Shamshad Bibi, who is the picture of prosperity today, employing 5 persons in a flourishing carpet-thread business that earns a monthly income of Rs 10,000. Things however, were not always this rosy- abandoned twice by 2 successive husbands, and left to her own devices with 5 young children Shamshad was at her wits end but determined to do better, on her own. Spurred by the successes of other women in her community she approached Community Support Concern (CSC), and through their skill development program, learnt how to make special carpet thread. Based on her training CSC approved a micro-loan and the rest as they say is history. With all 5 children enrolled in school, Shamshad is now actively involved in expanding her business.
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Liaquat Ali, 34
Regional Rural Winner
Region: Narowal, Punjab
Wins Rs. 75,000
From a humble road side ‘pakora’ seller averaging Rs. 5000 per month, Liaqat Ali is today the proud owner of a restaurant that makes more than Rs. 125,000 a month. Liaqat was always keen to open such a facility and applied to Narowal Rural Development Program (NRDP) when he heard of micro-loans. ‘I couldn’t believe that someone like me, with nothing in the world but an idea could get money from a bank’. Liaqat was savvy enough to find a busy location for his endeavour where besides serving lunch & dinner, he could deliver lunch boxes to near-bye offices as well. By adopting certain best practices such as cash-onlydealings with suppliers, ensuring cleanliness & hygiene and giving credit to labouers he was able to draw in the crowds. Also by adding cigarettes and cold beverages he has been able to attract greater business. ‘My children go to school and I have recently bought a a small plot of land where I will, with God’s blessings, construct a concrete house’.
Nawlee Begum, 45
Regional Rural
Region: Umerkot Sind
Wins Rs. 75,000
Nawlee begum has 5 dependants- 3 years ago, she had only Rs. 500 a month, to take care of their needs. Schooling her 4 children was out of the question, as her sole priority was to put food on the table. But that was before she encountered Thardeep Rural Development Program (TRDP) and applied for a start up micro loan to start a ‘kohli’ fabric business. Today, 4 loan cycles later, Nawlee makes Rs.50,000 a month and lives in a ‘pucca’ house with 3 rooms. She employs 2 people from within the community and has also diversified in to Grocery selling recently. All of her children go to school.
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Doongar Mal, 45
Regional Rural Winner
Region: Sanghar, Sind
Wins Rs. 75,000
Doongar Mal is in his 4th loan cycle with SAFWCO. He initially took a loan to set up a special shoe business for ladies, gents and even the armed & police forces and has over the years become a recognized supplier in his native town of Sanghar. ‘from zero to Rs. 15,000 a month is an achievement’, he says proudly- ‘and I am not only educating my own children, but have also taken care of the marriages and education of my siblings’.
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Akhtar Ali, 36
Regional Rural Winner
Region: Swabi, NWFP
Wins Rs. 75,000
Nine years ago Akhtar took a small loan from Swabi Women’s Welfare Society (SWWS) and has since then set up a flourishing potato chips business. He initially focused on distributing his product at schools in surrounding areas but realizing the potential in other areas, decided to expand his reach by buying a motor cycle. This decision paid off and today he is the main distributor at 12 schools and employs 5 people to help him. Akhtar’s monthly earnings have gone up from negligible to Rs 50,000 per month and he uis comfortably supporting his parents and 7 siblings. ‘My biggest worry was taking care of my parents, but now I am able to provide the best medical care to them’.
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Venus Waris, 55
Regional Rural Winner
Region: Essa Nagri, Balochistan
Wins Rs. 75,000
It is not easy to have a voice when you’re a woman’ says Venus Waris, who challenged strict conventions and applied to ‘Save The Poor’ for a loan to start a garments & public call office business. ‘My husband’s salary was a pittance and i wanted to give myself and my children a better life’. After 3 successful loan cycles she is now making Rs. 15,000/ month and her improved status has enabled the marriages of two of her sons, both of whom are employed by her. ‘My daughter will be getting married soon’ she beams ‘and as for my husband, he has taken a retirement from his job!’
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Zainab Bibi, 44
Regional Urban
Region: Lahore, Punjab
Wins Rs. 75,000
Zainab is the sole breadwinner in her 6-person household and she has risen to the challenge admirably. ‘My husband was very supportive of my endeavours and encouraged me to apply for a micro-loan’. Zainab’s case is unique as she saw an opportunity for fish farming in the empty, army-owned pond close to her house. With a failing one-cow strong milk set-up, Zainab approached CSC with her business idea and the MFI loved it. Today 3 loan cycles later, Zainab employs 2 people, makes Rs 20,000/month and all 5 of her children are attending school.
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Yousaf Khan, 26
Runner up- National Male
Region: Mardan, NWFP
Wins Rs. 60,000
From complete dependence on father’s low wages, Yousaf now makes Rs. 60,000 per month. A 4-year client of ‘National Rural Support Program’ (NRSP) Yousaf initially approached the organization with a clear idea of setting up his own hand-made shoe crafting business. Today he supports his father as well as his own family. ‘My business survived the 2005 Earthquake and its damaging effects- that is how well I have done’.
Yousaf employs 3 people and all of his children are getting an education- moreover Yousaf has encouraged many parents in his neighborhood to send their daughters to school also.
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Kishwar Sutana, 54
Runner up- National Female
Region: Lahore, Punjab
Wins Rs. 60,000
Before receiving a Rs. 6,000 microloan five years ago to start her own catering business, Kishwer Sultana of Lahore lived in a shack with her six children. She had no furniture except for her worktable and her children cried from lack of food. Five years to the day and Kishwer is sending her four oldest children to a good “English” school and owns a three story house which has a TV, a fridge, a deep freezer and most recently a microwave oven. Before her microloan, her children were malnourished but now she says “they look as children should – healthy and happy.”
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Sahib Khatoon, 55
Runner up- Regional Urban
Region: D.G. Khan, Punjab
Wins Rs. 45,000
My husband’s unemployment went on for so long that I relized it was up to me to change things’ says Sahib Khatoon of D.G. Khan. Destitute, with 5 children and daily labour wages of less than Rs. 200, Sahib Khatoon took to crafting mats, baskets and fans from palm leaves to make ends meet. Encountering a credit officer from Khushali bank, she decided to apply for a small loan to build on her craft selling. Today she makes Rs. 6000 per month and is working closely with the Khushali Team to expand her business. Her younger children are now studying in a local school while her elder daughters have been respectfully married off
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Zahida Parveen, 34
Runner up- Regional Urban
Region: Nowshera, NWFP
Wins Rs. 45,000
Zahida has completed 2 loan cycles with the Khushali bank. She has increased her income from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 15000 per month and makes a vigilant effort to add value to her garment business. Starting out with selling ready-made garments, she has extended her product-range to include matching handbags, shoes and more recently household linen. Zahida has also started an apprenticeship program for other women in her area and is supplementing her main income with training fee. ‘Though I am no longer worried about where the next meal is coming from, I want my business to grow still further’
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Josephine, 41
Runner up- Regional Urban
Region: Gujranwala, Punjab
Wins Rs. 45,000
Josephine earns Rs. 300,000 monthly and is in her 5 th loan cycle with the ‘Organization for Participatory Development’ (OPD). ‘I had to fight my in-laws to apply for my first loan and though they resisted, my mind was made up- I knew I could do better’. With her first loan she set up a small medical supplies distribution set up, realizing that their availability was limited in her area. She is the sole breadwinner now and actually employs her husband who left his day job on account of their improved lifestyle. Jospehine’s 2 children are both enrolled in a private school and she is keen on both getting college degrees.
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Zain ul Abidin, 36
Runner up- Regional Urban
Region: Karachi, Sind
Wins Rs. 45,000
Zain employed his skill as an auto mechanic to apply to Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Welfare Society (SALBWS) for a micro loan. He was unemployed but knew he had a sound business plan. Responsible for 5 dependents, Zain ensured proper use of the loan by setting up his own auto workshop. After just one loan cycle, he has made a difference- today he employs 5 people, and earns a monthly income of Rs. 50,000. His children are in good schools and he plans to see them through college.
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Azhar ul Islam, 30
Runner up- Regional Urban
Region: Attock, Punjab
Wins Rs. 45,000
Azhar ul Islam was the eldest son of a large and very poor family. ‘despite a high school education and a stream of salaried odd jobs, I could never make more than Rs. 3000a month- I felt helpless when my father fell ill and we had no money to get him a decent treatment’. Azhar approached ‘Help in Need’ & after a series of small loans, established a general store. Today his monthly earnings average around Rs.45,000. He lives in own home and supports his father’s family as well. Both of Azhar’s daughters are enrolled in school.
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Najab Shaheen, 29
Runner up- Regional Rural
Region: Chakwal, Punjab
Wins Rs. 45,000
Najab Shaheen lives in Chakwal, Punjab. Before she received her first loan from NRSP she was supporting a family of nine on less than Rs.2000 a day through multitudes of odd jobs. Najab’s one advantage was a high school education – armed with this she was able to approach the local “community organization” (CO) that worked primarily as a resource base for men in her village. From here she learned of microcredit and the rest as they say is history. Not only was Najab able to start a school for young girls but she also invested in livestock and draws not one but two incomes. Now she not only provides for her family but, inspired by her own changed circumstances, has established her own CO – a forum that meets regularly to highlight and address successes and issues in overcoming poverty respectively – in a bid to help others like her.
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Talhio, 40
Runner up- Regional Rural
Region: Sanghar, Sind
Wins Rs. 45,000
Tahlio was unemployed with 6 dependents but skilled in the dying craft of cultured ‘bangle’-making, a method particular to his area in Sanghar. He based his loan request to OWPRA on the belief that this would be successful. After 4 loan cycles his monthly income is Rs. 48,000- he supplements this income with fees he charges for training other young men in the craft. ‘I employ 4 people and my wife helps me with the packaging’ he says proudly. All of Talhio’s 5 children are enrolled in good schools.
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Soomran Bhanbro, 40
Runner up- Regional Rural
Region: Khairpur Sind
Wins Rs. 45,000
‘It’s not easy to hear your children cry from hunger at night,” recalls Soomran Bhanbro, who lives in Khairpur district, Sind. Soomran’s husband, an unskilled wage laborer, earned very little and hardly enough to feed, clothe and shelter their seven children. Today Soomran’s reality is starkly different – four microloans and five years later she is the successful operator of a medical supply business and employs two contractual staff to aid her. Starting off modestly with midwife services, Soomran expanded her line of work and now her children study in a school nearby and she owns a small house.
Najab Shaheen lives in Chakwal, Punjab. Before she received her first loan from NRSP she was supporting a family of nine on less than Rs.2000 a day through multitudes of odd jobs. Najab’s one advantage was a high school education – armed with this she was able to approach the local “community organization” (CO) that worked primarily as a resource base for men in her village. From here she learned of microcredit and the rest as they say is history. Not only was Najab able to start a school for young girls but she also invested in livestock and draws not one but two incomes. Now she not only provides for her family but, inspired by her own changed circumstances, has established her own CO – a forum that meets regularly to highlight and address successes and issues in overcoming poverty respectively – in a bid to help others like her.
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