- Lawrence Road, Jinnah Town, Lahore
- (042) 3631 3186
- Info@homenetpakistan.org
Saira Zulfiqar’s life has been marked by adversity and challenges. Despite facing mistreatment and abuse from her husband, she demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience. Forced to work odd jobs to support her large family, she endured financial hardship and the burden of providing for her 9 sons and 5 daughters.
The turning point came when her husband forcibly married off one of their daughters to a mentally unstable man. Faced with the prospect of her other daughters suffering a similar fate, Saira made the difficult decision to seek a divorce and separate from her
husband. She took her daughters with her, determined to provide them with a better life and protect them from harm.
Even in the face of these challenges, Saira’s strength and determination have not wavered. She continues to fight for the well-being of her family, ensuring that her daughters are safe and protected.
Despite facing numerous challenges, she has always strived to provide for her family through sheer hard work and resilience. From cleaning washrooms to being a security guard and from selling chocolates on the road to driving a rickshaw and selling homemade flatbreads, she worked odd jobs to feed her family.
However, it was a moment of illness that sparked a new beginning for Saira. While hospitalized, she received an order for her flatbreads, which made her realize the potential of her culinary skills. This realization, coupled with the support and guidance She received from HomeNetPakistan (HNP),led her to envision a new path for herself.
Attending HNP’s meeting on the Financial Inclusion of Home-based Workers’ Enterprises through Business Booster Loan and Trainings (FBLT) project was a turning point for her. She saw an opportunity to turn her part-time job into a full-fledged business and provide for her family more effectively. The FBLT project aimed to empower home-based workers like Saira by providing them with access to financial products and capacity-building opportunities tailored to their needs.
With a newly instilled determination, Saira established the Fiza Food Company, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
“After undergoing the Foundation Level Training as part of the FBLT program, I came to understand my past mistakes, ” revealed Saira. “Previously, I would procure flour from any source without considering its quality or price, resulting in minimal savings. However, through the training, I realized the importance of sourcing ingredients from wholesale markets, ensuring both quality and affordability to produce cost-effective yet delectable flatbreads.”
Saira’s insights didn’t stop there. She recognized the necessity of establishing proper pricing for her products and prioritizing bulk orders to maximize profitability.Moreover, she learned the significance of meticulous record-keeping, tracking expenses, and brainstorming strategies to enhance profits.
Utilizing her Foundation Level Training teaching, Saira invested in a flour kneading machine, streamlining her operations and saving valuable time. She adopted a meticulous approach, tracking the amount of flour and gas consumption for each batch of flatbreads, incorporating these costs into her pricing strategy. Additionally, she expanded her menu to include parathas, diversifying her offerings and appealing to a broader customer base.
Prior to the Foundation Level Training, Saira produced a modest 40-60 flatbreads daily. However, the training enlightened her about maximizing resources. Implementing these teachings, she now produces an impressive 300-350 flatbreads per day. This significant increase in productivity has translated to higher savings and a more sustainable business model. This change not only increased her production capacity, but curbed her need to seek employment outside her home.
Saira’s monthly earnings have skyrocketed from a mere daily struggle to around PKR125,000,with a substantial savings of PKR36,000 every month after expenses.
She is currently undergoing her Advance Level Training which has empowered her to envision and implement strategies to expand her business. “My future goals involve expanding my business by catering to companies, offices, and canteens of various institutes with homemade flatbreads on a daily basis. Additionally, I intend to enhance my production capacity by investing my savings in larger and more efficient machinery. This will not only streamline operations but also boost business growth, “Saira explains optimistically.
FIZA FOOD COMPANY, LAHORE, PAKISTAN – CONTACT: 0303 4205342
About
Quick Link
Useful Links
Contact
Copyright 2022 by trusthand All Right Reserved.