Before 2005, Farida Imitiaz and her husband were struggling to make ends meet for their family, due to extensive medical bills. That year, Farida took out what became the first in a series of loans from the First MicroFinance Bank (FMFB) Ltd Pakistan. Over time, these loans have enabled her to build a beekeeping and honey production business that has significantly increased her household income, and allowed her and her husband to renovate their house and put their children through higher secondary school and college. She is one of 150 women entrepreneurs in her village who have started successful businesses with the help of FMFB loans, and have as a result become more self-reliant.