00:00The first profession that every child dreams of is the army.
00:16I wanted to become a fashion designer.
00:20I wanted to start my own business, my own boutique and my own brand.
00:31When I used to read the story of Hazrat Khadija, she was an exporter.
00:35She has been a very successful businesswoman.
00:38She is the first Muslim businesswoman in our history.
00:45I took the idea of my fashion boutique
00:51and when I went to the market for the branding and packaging.
01:01My name is Afsha. I belong to Sawabi.
01:05I am an entrepreneur, industrial designer, founder and CEO of Fast Move Packages.
01:18I had a big problem.
01:20Keeping that in mind, I decided to open a one-stop shop
01:24where I can manufacture cartons and cardboard boxes for customers.
01:28Apart from that, printing services like brochures, visiting cards and one-stop shops under one roof.
01:48When I went to a supplier in Karnataka, they told me that men cannot run an industry here.
01:54It has been three years since I started my business.
01:59When I started, the biggest problem was the financing.
02:03When we go to the banks for funding or financing, their requirement is mortgage.
02:13Because our women do not own real estate properties.
02:17It is either in the name of our husband, our fathers or our brothers.
02:22I had a vault.
02:25I sold my gold and bought machinery.
02:28I took a small start.
02:46I have worked here like a labourer for a year or two.
02:51I stood on every machine with my labour.
02:54From there, I gained technical know-how and other things.
03:02I used to design customer logos myself.
03:08Now, people come to me for guidance.
03:11Since last year, we have been working for Break Even.
03:15We have made a lot of profit.
03:18I have 25 full-time employees.
03:23But again, because of the political instability and hyperinflation in our country,
03:28there are ups and downs in business.
03:42Our parents prefer that our daughters or daughters-in-law go into teaching or become doctors.
03:49These two professions are good and safe for them.
03:57I think 1% of the women are into the business.
04:01The government and the rest of the people should work on this.
04:04I think 1% of the women are into the business.
04:08The government and the rest of the people should work on this.
04:14Women should not only work in e-commerce and other businesses,
04:19where we already have women handicrafts,
04:23but they should also be brought to the industrial side.
04:26And I want to become one of the successful businesswomen of Pakistan.
04:49I want to become a role model for other females of my region,
04:53not only nationally but internationally.
04:56I want to become a role model for other females of my region,
04:59not only nationally but internationally.
05:02I want to take initiatives to work on women empowerment and skill development.
05:06And I have passed the Academy for Women Entrepreneurship program.
05:11And I have passed the Academy for Women Entrepreneurship program.
05:16Any female within my circle who needs guidance,
05:20who wants to start her own business,
05:23who wants to start her own business,
05:26I do provide them because I have passed it.
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