Against the need for easily accessible and flexible micro finance services, in Balochistan TF realized that the constituencies in Balochistan might never achieve it’s full potential without the means to alleviate crippling financial constraints. TF initiated its MFED program in 1996 with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to help people help themselves out of poverty. Since its establishment the MFED Program has continued to grow in portfolio, size and outreach communities. At the end of June 2004 a total of PKR 2851 million had been disbursed to 22,507 clients, 62% of which were women. There are maximum of seven cycles of credit loans ranging from PKR 10,000 to 30,000 to a borrower.
Under this program Taraqee has organized 1,332 Community Organizations (COs), comprising of 26,642 members. They are all borrowers and saving members of Taraqee. Under this component a saving of PKR 12 million was recorded.
Taraqee assists borrowers in the marketing of their products by developing their skills and helping them to create linkages with buyers.
Since the political turmoil in Balochistan arising from the death of a famous political leader (Nawab Akber Khan Bugti) on 26 August 2006 TF’s micro-credit component had to be suspended and now TF is fully focusing on its enterprise development component

Enterprise Development:

Currently TF in association with SMEDA (AHAN) working on new products for enterprise development. A pilot project on introducing marble mosaic making in Balochistan is in progress. ILO (International Labour Organization) is also supporting TF in its enterprise development program. Through this intervention TF is also advocating women’s employment concerns and challenges of female entrepreneurs.
Taraqee has introduced an innovative idea of establishing farmer’s enterprises in district Pishin in early 2007 with the support of Agribusiness Support fund (ASF). The farmers are identified, organized and trained to make and operate enterprises. ASF provides technical support and matching grants to these enterprises. The purpose is to enable these enterprises to effectively utilize business development services to enhance productivity and market diversity, presentation and profitability. For this purpose the support to the farmer enterprises ranges from capacity building to buying packing material and marketing their products. During the last ten months TF has been able to establish one hundred farmer’s enterprises.