Shazia Bibi, a 35-year-old mother of four from Mandi Yazman in District Bahawalpur, Punjab, is the wife of a daily wage labourer. Determined to support her family and provide a better future for her school-going children, she always dreamed of running a home-based business. Using her skills, she started offering basic beauty services from her home. As her client base grew, Shazia aspired to expand and establish a proper beauty parlour but lacked the financial resources to do so. Upon learning about the Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan (PMIFL) Programme, implemented by Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund through its partner organisations, she approached the implementing partner and successfully applied for the loan.

After completing the necessary process, Shazia’s interest free loan of PKR 40,000 was approved, and she received the amount within a few days. With this support, she set up a small beauty parlour, allowing her to put her skills to use while generating a steady income. As her business began to grow, Shazia expanded her services by stocking branded makeup products and hair colours to attract more customers. Encouraged by the response, she applied for a second loan—and is now successfully running her business in the third loan cycle.

Shazia now earns between PKR 40,000 to 50,000 per month, enabling her to support her husband financially and enrol her children in quality schools. Grateful for the opportunity, she credits the PMIFL programme for helping her turn a long-held dream into a thriving business. With renewed confidence and financial stability, Shazia takes pride in the improved quality of life she has created for her family.