Masoom Ali Shah lives with his wife and seven children in Muzaffarabad.  A craftsman by profession, he was living off a meagre pension from the small industry department of the Government of Azad Jammu &Kashmir. His monthly pension was so insignificant that he was unable to make both ends meet. His limited income was also affecting his children’s education. So he decided to establish a training and production centre. But lack of funds was a great obstacle as his plans were big and resources scant.

Shah was highly skilled at making handmade wooden products and he had the potential to produce more goods but had no savings. More goods needed more raw material and meant more money. But he did not give up and kept working hard.

Meanwhile, Shah came to know about Khushhali Bank Limited. This proved to be a turning point in his life. With a timely loan he established the training and production centre he had dreamt of, where he not only produces goods for business purpose but is also transferring his skills to the next generation by providing training in handicraft. With increased monthly sales, he returned his first loan successfully.

On October 08, 2005, when a terrible earthquake hit Muzaffarabad and Shah’s village, not only his home perished but with it his business too. After reconstructing his house he contacted Khushhali Bank Limited for a micro-loan to re-establish his business. Under Khushhali Bank’s new product named Emergency Livelihood Restoration Program (ELRP), he was offered a loan and he is now back to expanding his business with a new vigour.

Shah invested ELRP loan amount of Rs15,000 in restarting his business and reconstructing his training centre. Today, once again, his monthly income smoothly meets his household expense and his children are continuing their education without hinder.

Indeed, Khushhali Bank Limited proved for him a friend in need.