INDIVIDUAL(S) PHOTOGRAPHED: Muhammad Asif. LOCATION: Bhance Colony, Landhi, Karachi, Pakistan. CAPTION: Muhammad Asif repairs a wrist watch at his small shop in Karachi, Pakistan. Asif, a father of four children, has been repairing watches since he started his so-called shop from a small roadside table 20 years ago. In 2005, when he got his first microfinancing support of Rs. 20,000 (£140) from the First Micro Finance Bank (FMFB), he extended his business into selling mobile phone accessories. He has since completed a number of cycles of financing and successful repayment to the bank. A recent loan enabled him to expand his entrepreneurial activities into the echo sound system business, and also to start a side line in decorating services for wedding and birthday parties. Thanks to microfinancing, his daily earnings have increased from Rs. 400 a day in 2005 to Rs. 5,500 today. He employs separate workers to manage the different arms of his business, though he retains ultimate oversight for each section himself. He says, “I’m not able to concentrate more on watch repairing instead of my decorating business, owing to the relative margins. Still, I will not leave it, as it’s been my primary profession and business since the beginning.” Asif dreams of one day being able to offer a big lawn to wedding parties to hold their events.
