Pakistan: A woman entrepreneur thinks outside the box

DW (English)

Afshan Khan is an industrial designer and entrepreneur, who founded her own company in Pakistan three years ago. She tells us about the obstacles and hurdles she had to overcome as a woman.

Transcript

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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