Success Stories

BISMA SALANGI

A 13-year-old student named Bisma Salangi from Karachi’s Evergreen Secondary School has gained recognition from NASA for her impressive achievements. She invented a special pair of glasses that can help prevent drivers from falling asleep while driving. These glasses aim to reduce accidents and promote road safety. NASA was impressed by her invention and has invited her to their camp to further develop her skills and create more amazing devices. Bisma Salangi highlighted the abilities of Pakistanis and the importance of determination in accomplishing remarkable things during an interview with a local news network. Drowsy driving is a significant danger to drivers and others on the road, both in Pakistan and worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, a significant number of road traffic incidents are caused by fatigue-related accidents. When drivers are drowsy, they experience reduced alertness, brief episodes of unintentional sleep, impaired decision-making, and a higher likelihood of drifting or veering from their lane. It is important to raise awareness about the risks of drowsy driving, recognize signs of fatigue, prioritize getting enough rest, and encourage using alternative means of transportation.

FAHAD RAJA FROM AZAD KASHMIR

My name is Fahad raja. I belong to Mirpur Azad Kashmir. I would love to share my success story here to inspire the zestful community of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. Before moving forward a special thanks to Sir Hisham Sarwar and Sir Faisal Latif who played a vital role in my success.
The journey begins:
I was in the last semester of my University and like all students, I was also anxious about my future. One day, I heard my Senior Faisal Latif (the pioneer who introduce freelancing to the whole University and city) discussing Freelancing and online earning using the Internet. I headed towards him and ask “ what is this bro?And he explained it to me and also share some useful tips to rank your profile.
In a moment, I went to a university lab and started browsing about freelancing skills..At that time we didn’t have the internet at home and a single laptop for the whole family.
 
Freelance Career :
I was working steadily as a freelancer on a laptop sitting on a stool in my storeroom because I did not have my personal space and used to spend 10-12 hours on the laptop at first my family opposed me strongly as they thought I was just wasting my time and not serious about Job. Also, people around me used to say freelancing as“ Huwai Rozi”, and was also concerned about my future.
So I decided to join a company In Islamabad as an SEO intern with 8k starting salary of 9:00-6:00 office job and from 8:00-2:00 am was doing freelancing.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
I was eagerly learning new skills of SEO , getting experience how to rank Websites from and upgrading myself, and established my gig of SEO on Fiverr.
With the grace of Allah Almighty, my hard work and consistency my freelancing grow, and got boom i start earning more money.
After supporting my family I was able to save 15 lacs in the first year I purchased a 2011 Model Toyota Carolla my first car and received appreciation from friends and family which motivates me a lot. I started to invest in devices purchased a new laptop secured a good Internet connection and also a comfortable chair. I started exploring more skills and got admission in Web Development Course to enhance my skills because i believe in up gradating of knowledge.
i was earning a good amount of money and enjoying the life I traveled to Dubai for 7 days in 2016 where I get much exposure to how the world is transforming digitally while traveling back in my mind I was planning to open my own office. 
Freelancer To Entrepreneur:
Over time I realized that people are running their businesses so, why not me? and I have to be more successful I have to make a team. 
I start getting Knowledge about Android Apps/Play store and making investments in making Android apps hiring developers, designers, content writers, and Aso experts Team building and work management was the most difficult task which took 6 months of patience. After running an office in Islamabad due to Family issues I came back to my home town Mirpur AJk.
 I decided to build a setup in Mirpur too. At that time there was no concept of a software house in Mirpur, But I work hard and built a strong team. We provide IT services To global clients And training programs to AJK students.
Digital Kashmir Program:
Now i am also contributing to my society I always wanted to do something for youth, So I launched free training programs for students and Internships for University students in Mirpur Azad Kashmir. Later On, I launched a campaign “Digital Kashmir“ to inspire and educate Mirpur Community. Conducting free seminars and awareness campaigns. Today Alhamdulillah we have trained more than 300+ students and we have 15+ Employees in Azad Kashmir Branch. A lot of our students are earning kitchen money and some of our students are earning handsome amounts.
Now i have 15 Employees and 2 Physical working Offices
i have traveled 7 countries build my own house and cars. Everything once I dreamed for.
 

SHAKEELA STORY

A journey of Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurialism
Growing up in Pakistan, Shakeela Bibi – like millions of young girls around the world – was passionate about beauty. Shakeela though wanted to share her passion with others and dreamt of one day running a salon. She embarked on a long journey of education, empowerment and entrepreneurialism to achieve her dream.
Before she could open the doors to her salon though, she would have to overcome some tough barriers to entry. As of July 2022, only 1% of women in Pakistan participate in entrepreneurial activities compared with 21% of men. The female literacy rate in Pakistan is 48% compared with 70% for men, and approximately 22.5 million children do not attend school, the majority of which are girls; by grade nine (age 14-15) only 13% of girls are still enrolled in school. Financially, at least 82% of women in Pakistan are unbanked.
The good news is things are changing. There is growing recognition that the gender gap is holding back girls and women and the country’s chances for economic development. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has developed a Gender Mainstreaming Policy that aims to promote women and financial inclusion in Pakistan. This policy was not yet in place when Shakeela embarked on her mission, but that did not hold her back.
Gain Confidence with the Help FamilyBefore starting the business, Shakeela needed to learn her trade. “I’m based in Muzaffarabad, in northern Pakistan, the largest city of Azad Kashmir, but I took formal training at various salons with some other master trainers in Lahore.”

ROBINA BIBI

A rural woman’s journey to becoming a micro-entrepreneur
Belonging to a small village near Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, Robina would help her husband earn livelihood by selling milk from two goats her family owned. However, she had a bigger dream to start a proper dairy business. 
To materialize that dream, she decided to avail a livestock loan from Khushhali Microfinance Bank in 2015 to purchase a cow. Following her husband’s sudden death, Robina was left to earn bread and butter for their six children. Instead of losing hope, Robina stayed strong and poured her energy into her livestock business to pay back her first loan. She then availed a second loan to purchase a buffalo, which is more profitable than a cow.
 
Next year, she took another entrepreneurial plunge and borrowed from the same microfinance bank to purchase another buffalo. Thanks to her business sense and courage to take initiative, Robina’s leaps proved worthwhile. Her earnings increased and she was able to send her children to school. Unfortunately, the same year, a fire broke out in her house because of which one of her daughters sustained severe burn injuries. Despite the life-changing incident, Robina remained invested in her business and rebuilt her damaged house while also affording her daughter’s medical treatment.
Despite all the hardships she has faced, Robina bibi remains optimistic about her future. Here’s an illiterate woman from poverty-stricken background who overcame the worst challenges life threw at her to become financially self-sufficient and provide a comfortable life for her kids. In retrospect, her loans were the stepping stones to her little business that changed her life. With a few resources provided to her, Robina utilized her personal qualities of resilience and business acumen to get a hold on her life. What’s commendable, besides everything, is that Robina repaid all her loans on time. Today, her monthly revenue exceeds PKR 70,000, and Robina eventually wants to set up a dairy farm.
With initiative comes greater rewards; Robina’s story is a testament to that. However, her story is not one in isolation. There are numerous examples of women from rural areas like her, who carry remarkable accounts of true economic empowerment. However, there is one aspect of these narratives which can’t be overlooked – with little support through access to financial resources, an individual with initiative can become agent of change in their community. In Robina’s case, the loans she took from Khushhali Microfinance Bank helped her overcome her financial obstacles