{"id":4574,"date":"2025-07-08T18:12:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T18:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mahmoodtariq.com\/hnp\/?p=4574"},"modified":"2025-08-09T17:20:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T17:20:50","slug":"defining-and-empowering-women-enterprises-microfinance-in-pakistan-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mahmoodtariq.com\/hnp\/defining-and-empowering-women-enterprises-microfinance-in-pakistan-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Success Story: Success Story of Zakia Parveen"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Success Story: Success Story of Zakia Parveen<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Zakia Parveen \u2013 Breaking Barriers with Strength and Skill\nA Life of Struggle and Determination<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Zakia Parveen, a strong and determined<\/span>
woman, has lived a life full of challenges<\/span>
from a very young age. Living with a<\/span>
physical disability (PWD), Zakia has<\/span>
relied on a wheelchair for mobility since<\/span>
childhood. Despite the physical<\/span>
limitations, her spirit and will to achieve<\/span>
something in life remained unshaken.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Zakia grew up in an environment where<\/span>
life was a constant struggle. Although<\/span>
she had the support of<\/span> her family, the financial and emotional challenges<\/span><\/span>
were always present. Through sheer determination and family<\/span>
encouragement, Zakia managed to complete her matriculation. However,<\/span>
due to the lack of financial resources and accessibility issues, she<\/span>
couldn\u2019<\/span>t continue her education beyond that.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A Burning Desire to Do More<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Even as a child, Zakia dreamed of doing something meaningful with her<\/span>
life. She wanted to be independent, confident, and make a name for<\/span>
herself. But like many women with disabilities, she<\/span> faced constant<\/span>
barriers<\/span>,<\/span>physical, societal, and economic<\/span> that kept pushing her dreams<\/span>
further out of reach.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

After getting married, Zakia’s challenges increased. Her husband\u2019s<\/span>
income was not enough to support all household needs, and Zakia often<\/span>
felt the p<\/span>ressure of financial stress. Yet, she continued to hold on to the<\/span>
hope that one day, she would be able to contribute meaningfully to her<\/span>
family\u2019s income and gain recognition for her abilities rather than her<\/span>
disability.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A New Opportunity through a Friend<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Zakia\u2019s life took a positive turn when a friend introduced her to<\/span>
HomeNet Pakistan (HNP). That single connection became a doorway to<\/span>
the possibilities she had only dreamed of. When she first joined HNP,<\/span>
she realized that age, physical ability, or backgroun<\/span>d didn\u2019t matter when<\/span>
it came to learning and personal growth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>
\u00a0<\/div><\/div>
<\/span>At HNP, Zakia attended various sessions that were designed to empower<\/span>
women through awareness, confidence<\/span>–<\/span>building, and skills training. For<\/span>
the first time, she felt seen, heard, and supported<\/span> outside her family<\/span>
circle.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Empowered by Skills \u2013 The Beautician Course<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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With the support of HomeNet Pakistan and UNDP, Zakia enrolled in a<\/span>
three<\/span>–<\/span>month certified beautician course. This course became a turning<\/span>
point in her life. She not only gained practica<\/span>l skills in beauty and self<\/span>–<\/span>
care services but also began to feel a new level of confidence in herself.<\/span><\/span><\/span>

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The training gave her a sense of purpose and direction. Zakia said, \u201cThis<\/span>
course taught me more than just beauty skills<\/span>. I<\/span>t taught me that I am<\/span>
capable<\/span> of doing something on my own, even if I cannot walk.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Starting Her Own Home-Based Setup<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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After completing her training, Zakia took a bold step and set up a small<\/span>
beauty station in her own home. With limited resources and space, she<\/span>
creatively arranged her<\/span> setup to accommodate her wheelchair and serve<\/span>
her clients comfortably.<\/span><\/span><\/div>
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She now offers a range of services including hairstyling, facials, and<\/span>
makeup to women in her neighborhood. Though she works from home,<\/span>
her services are in demand, and her clients appr<\/span>eciate her dedication<\/span>
and professionalism.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Gaining Independence and Respect<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Zakia\u2019s small business has helped reduce the financial pressure on her<\/span>
household. More importantly, it has brought her a sense of<\/span>
independence and dignity. She no longer feels<\/span> like a burden; instead, she<\/span>
feels proud of the fact that she can now contribute to the family income<\/span>
and stay productively engaged.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
She also feels mentally and emotionally stronger. Running her own setup,<\/span>
managing clients, and receiving appreciation has c<\/span>hanged the way she<\/span>
sees herself. She now inspires others around her<\/span>,<\/span> especially women with<\/span>
disabilities<\/span> to believe in their potential and take the first step toward<\/span>
self<\/span>–<\/span>reliance.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Looking Ahead with Hope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Zakia\u2019s journey is far from over. She now dreams of<\/span> expanding her<\/span>
home<\/span>–<\/span>based salon into a larger setup one day. She wants to train other<\/span>
girls and women, especially those with disabilities, and create a space<\/span>
where they can feel empowered and independent.<\/span><\/span><\/div>
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She says, \u201cThanks to HNP and UNDP, I got a chance<\/span> to move forward in<\/span>
life. I found strength in myself that I didn\u2019t know I had.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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A Story of Courage and Change<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Zakia Parveen\u2019s story is a testament to the fact that disability does not<\/span>
define one\u2019s potential. With support, training, and self<\/span>–<\/span>belief, she tur<\/span>ned<\/span>
her life around. From a struggling homemaker to a confident<\/span>
entrepreneur, Zakia proves that no barrier is too big when a woman<\/span>
decides to rise.<\/span><\/span><\/div>
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Her journey continues to inspire others, reminding us all that every<\/span>
woman deserves a chance to learn, grow<\/span>, and lead<\/span> regardless of her<\/span>
circumstances.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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