Pakistan · 2 September 2013 · 2 min
Islamabad, Pakistan, 30 July 2013 - Qurban Bibi, a client of the The First MicroFinanceBank (an institution of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance) in Pakistan, won the “Best National Micro-Entrepreneur Award Female” at the recent Citi-PPAF Micro-entrepreneurship Awards 2012 ceremony held in Islamabad. Qurban Bibi, from Booni, Chitral, was awarded a cash prize of PKR 225,000. Another FMFB client, Maryam Batool from Skardu, also won the “Best Regional Micro-Entrepreneur Award - Female” from the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Since the start of its operations in March 2002 as the first microfinance bank in Pakistan, FMFB Pakistan has reached out to millions of vulnerable people all across Pakistan by offering credit, savings and life insurance services to facilitate sustainable economic development.
The objective of the Citi-PPAF Micro-entrepreneurship Awards Programme is to illustrate and promote the effective role that microfinance plays in poverty alleviation. It recognises the extraordinary contributions that individual micro-entrepreneurs have made to the economic sustainability of their families as well as their communities.
Qurban Bibi decided to become a micro-entrepreneur after attending a Business Development Services (BDS) training program organised by The First MicroFinanceBank Pakistan (FMFB-P). She took a micro-loan to set up a sewing business. Over time, she has expanded her business, and now owns a variety of machines; and provides different services such as sewing, designing, and photographic services to her customers.
Qurban Bibi’s success has also spurred positive social change in her surroundings. Today, Qurban Bibi has the basic amenities of life, and is also able to support her extended family. She also assists others in need within her community by lending them interest fee loans to pay school fees on time and has also trained many young women in embroidery etc. so that these women are able to acquire skills and improve their own livelihoods.