300 Micro-loans for rural families in Pakistan

Unique Star focuses solely on poverty alleviation. In village communities' access to business training and small loan finance is difficult. The model Unique Star has implemented revolves around loan fund focusing on small business set up loans with sustainability within the business model. We aim to impact families and thus children's health and education and bring about access to viable and sustainable employment. This is not a 'hand-out' but a 'hand up' helping families to empower themselves. RED International has now sent the first transfer of funds for the project to help get projects going. We will send more funds as Unique Star increases the number of projects it's supporting.

Here is an update on two of the families that with your support we have helped. 

Imran* is thankful to Unique Star for providing him with easy interest loan. He buys clothes from garment factories and sells on the street wall by a busy crossroads.

“I buy t-shirts, shorts and other casual clothes according to the demand. People want good quality clothes, but cannot afford branded ones. I give them good quality clothes at a cheap price. The demand was increasing gradually which is good for business but due to shortage of investment it was difficult to fulfill the demand of the need.  I acquired a loan from Unique Star which allowed me to expand my business. Before the loan, my average sale a day was 600-700PKR. (5$-6$ per day). I hardly managed to save anything after paying all the business expenses of 4000-5000PKR. (38-48$ per month).

Now, thanks to the loan, gradually my sales are increasing and now the average sale per day is 1500-2000PKR (15$-19$ per day), which not only fulfills my family needs, it also pays all my expenses leaving an average profit of 8000-9000PKR. (75-85$) per month.

Thank you Unique Star. With your help I am able to excel at my business properly and efficiently.”

Irfan was mentioned in our May 2016 update. He writes:

“I am sole proprietor and running a printing business from home. These things are in demand as people want to look good-looking and being modern with differently printed T-shirts. They also want to decorate and give away gifts to each other in the shape of printed mugs, which they can place in their homes and offices. This business is a growing. I had started my business with old machinery, which does not have a good effect on my business and production as well; also it is too time-consuming with that machinery and it was difficult to meet customers’ needs. But after acquiring a loan from Unique Star, I have purchased good machinery which not only is best in quality, but also through this I can satisfy customers’ demands. Now I can take orders, many orders from the market and meet the customers’ need.

With the help of Unique Star in form of a Loan, my production has increased 20% and still increases gradually. Before the investment through Unique Star, I could complete an order in 1 week (7 days with old machinery) - now I complete it in 3-4 days.

After the loan from Unique Star, I am saving 12000-15000/- Rs. (115-144$) per month; before that, I saved 5000-7000/- (48-67$ per month).

I am thankful to Unique Star; they helped me to excel my business. God Bless Unique Star.”

*Names changed

Thank you

Both we and our partners in Pakistan are very grateful to all those who have supported this project through GlobalGiving. Why not share these stories with friends, family and colleagues so that more families in Pakistan can have their lives transformed for the better. One simple share can make so much difference.

Thank you again for your support of Unique Star and the people it is helping to break free from poverty.