Life Changed, Changing Lives -letter
The First MicroFinanceBank Ltd. has delivered another successful performance at the annual Micro-entrepreneurship awards ceremony hosted by Citigroup and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). This is the third-year running that a client has been honoured with a prize from Mastuj Branch.
This year’s winner was Mrs. Asman Dawood, who picked up Rs. 50,000 for her potato-farming efforts in Chinar. She might be well-known by some of you who have heard her speak as a role-model in forums organized by Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) at PTDC Motel Mastuj.
After she was selected as one of 16 finalists from across Pakistan (out of a whopping 400 applications), she was flown down to Islamabad for an interview. The Islamabad Mariott would host the judges and participants, and the finalists were asked many questions about their life, business, past experience, future plans, and other items of that nature. Each finalist would spend some time with the judges.
Decisions were made that very night, and the finalists would be rewarded with a respective award the following day. At a ceremony inside the NIC building in Islamabad, after a speech from the CEO’s of Citibank and PPAF respectively, the participants gracefully climbed the steps onto the stage with their officers. From the seats, the audience could see a smiling Mrs. Asman Dawood casually accept her much-deserved award. Encased in a blue velvet-covered box, there was a glass memento of her hard work and achievement, the prize she received.
It is wonderful to see the progress that people from our own region have made with the help of small loans. Inshallah, the continued work of microfinance institutions such as The First MicroFinanceBank Ltd., greater prosperity will be available to all individuals across the region.
The First MicroFinanceBank Ltd is the only Organization received biggest in number, six Micro-entrepreneurship awards during the year 2004, 2005 & 2006. Mastuj is the branch which gets four out of six. I would like to share the name of the recipients of the previous GMA award holders and also the story of Mrs. Dawood
Ms. Shahira Village Hazratabad, Mastuj
Mr. Hazir Khan the owner of Shandur Hotel of Laspur
Mr. Zar Murad Village Unawich, Yarkhoon
Mrs. Asman Dawood Village Chinar, Mastuj
Ismailimail 