Shahbaz Ali

Shahbaz Ali is a 23 years old resident of Bhasar Pura, Kasur. He has a family of five members that includes himself, his parents and two brothers. His one brother is getting education and one elder brother works and earns £45 in a month.

Shahbaz Ali sells ready to wear women clothes and also fabric. He sells these clothes mainly on the roadside or setting up a makeshift stall on different places. His monthly income is around £75. As it is time for the winter season he wants to have fabrics and clothes for the season. For the last few months, he has been suffering losses as businesses were shut down due to the country wide lock-down, resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. Even now, as the lock-down has eased up, restrictions make it difficult for small business owners like Shahbaz to earn a profit.

Shahbaz applied for loan to redeem his business and earnings. He will use it to buy variety of fabric and clothes of latest colours and designs from the wholesale market so that he can sell it to his existing and new customers.

The number of COVID cases were high in Pakistan at the beginning of the pandemic. A strict national lockdown helped reduce cases, but the virus is still prevalent and regional lockdowns continue to have a big impact on economic activity. The low-income entrepreneurs we support in Pakistan require working capital to help rebuild their businesses and provide a vital source of income for their families again.

“If you are lending, please be aware that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic your repayments could be at greater risk of delay or default”.