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WARSHA SILAYEE CENTRE SABIHA SHAKIL

Living in Karachi’s Musharraf Colony, Sabiha Shakil was a homemaker, while her husband worked in fisheries. They have two sons, aged 17 and 15. Residing in a rented house, their financial situation was strained due to the children’s education and monthly expenses, exacerbated by her husband’s low income from his fisheries job.

Sabiha had learned to sew as a child, and she began stitching clothes at home for her neighbours. Despite her efforts, which included managing household duties alongside sewing, the financial situation remained challenging.

 JOINING FBLT

Last year, she was introduced to HomeNet Pakistan (HNP) by its social mobilizer in the area. Intrigued, she attended a meeting on the Financial Inclusion of Home-based Workers’ Enterprises through Business Booster Loan and Trainings (FBLT) program. This program focused on enhancing the capacity of women home-based workers and offered tailored microfinance loans and financial literacy training.

STITCHING DREAMS

She enrolled in the FBLT program and completed its Foundation Level Training, which emphasized the importance of having a business plan. Through discussions with the trainer, she recognized that she possessed valuable skills but was only using them for personal gain. She realized the need to broaden her perspective and aim higher. This inspired her to conceive the idea of launching a stitching centre for young girls in her area, where she would teach sewing and also cater to the tailoring needs of her clients.

This initiative gave rise to the establishment of the ‘WarshaSilayee Center’.

  SEWING CENTRE SUCCESS

She possessed a sewing machine, but to establish a centre, she required additional machines. The FBLT program facilitated her connection with HBL Microfinance Bank. HNP accompanied her to the bank, assisted her in opening her bank account, applied for her ATM card, guided her through the loan application process, and aided her with documentation and verification,until she was granted a loan of PKR 50,000.

With this amount, she purchased sewing machines, along with other necessary items such as scissors and scales, and enrolled 12 girls in her class. She now operates the centre in two shifts,with 12 students in each shift. As her students become proficient in stitching, she involves them in stitching bulk orders from her tailoring unit,for which they are paid.Most of her students now pay their fees from the money they earn, reducing the burden on their families and providing them with a sense of financial independence.

The Foundation Level Training also taught her how to make her business sustainable.She learned how to track her purchases, the electricity bill for the teaching room, time management, communication and negotiation skills, and pricing her products while considering all expenses.By applying these learnings in her business, she managed to turn a profit. She also imparts the same knowledge to her students, ensuring that they have a self-sufficient business model when they start their own work.

   FROM DEBT TO PROSPERITY

Before the FBLT program, Sabiha had PKR 25,000 for her monthly expenses, which included rent, groceries, etc. However, since she started her business, she, alone, contributes PKR 20,000 or more to the household after covering all her expenses. In fact, within six months, she was able to pay off all her bank loan instalments and has now cleared her bank debt. After repaying the loan and continuously working on her business, she now saves PKR 5,000 or sometimes more every month.

The financial condition at home has improved as well. Her children were unable to afford tuition fees, but now they are enrolled in coaching classes for their board exams. They no longer worry about expenses every month and are leading a comfortable life.

  FUTURE PLANS FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

Sabiha has high hopes for the future.Her Advanced Level Training taught her ways to expand her business, for which she aims to apply for another loan. She plans to rent out a space outside her house, put up a signboard so passersby know it’s a stitching centre, print business cards, buy more sewing machines, and enrol more students. Meanwhile, she will continue to stitch clothes and work on bulk orders so that her tailoring unit keeps thriving too, and her students will have a place to find
employment after graduating from the centre.

Inspired by what HNP has done for her, she wants to do the same for other young girls and women in her area. She wants to invest her time in their capacity development,  familiarize them with banks and their loan services, and help them become economically independent and self-reliant. Sabiha believes in giving back to the community and hopes to grow her business while empowering other women around her as well.




WARSHA SILAYEE CENTRE, KARACHI, PAKISTAN – CONTACT: 0319 4651883

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HomeNet Pakistan is a network organizations formed to raised awareness about the working conditions of Home Based women workers who comprise 70% of informal workforce behind the country economic activities.

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