In the remote village of Saniyani Moryani, Sindh, lives Arbab Khatoon Tunio, a determined woman who has become a quiet force of change in her community. Like many rural women in Pakistan, Arbab once faced two difficult realities: limited income opportunities and restricted access to reproductive health services, underscoring the importance of improving and opening up conversations around reproductive health.

But her story took a transformative turn through the Business in a Box (BiB) initiative by PSI Pakistan, under the Delivering Accelerated Family Planning in Pakistan (DAFPAK) program supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

A Business That Improves Reproductive Health

The BiB model equips rural women with seed funding, training, and a ready-to-sell package of health-related products—ranging from sanitary napkins and hair removal creams to contraceptives. But it’s more than just a livelihood program; it turns women into trusted health advocates within their own communities.

Arbab now runs a small shop from her home and also conducts door-to-door outreach—making it easier for married women of reproductive age to access products and guidance in a setting that feels safe and familiar. Through her quiet conversations and growing customer base, she’s helping break long-held silences around menstruation, contraception, and women’s health. For Arbab, the change has meant more than just earning—it’s brought a sense of purpose.

“I feel content … Now I can support my family, my children’s education – and other women too – and that means everything to me.”

Her journey speaks to something deeper: women stepping into new roles, offering guidance, comfort, and care to others—just as they’ve always done, now with the tools to do even more.

Across 14 districts in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, BiB is creating ripple effects:

  • 5,200+ community workers trained
  • Average monthly income increased from PKR 2,500 to PKR 4,500, with some earning over PKR 20,000
  • 1.5 million+ households reached with essential health information and products

Digital tools like JazzCash and Easypaisa are helping women like Arbab manage transactions, build financial literacy, and run modern, accountable businesses—making sure access and autonomy go hand in hand.

Read the full article about improving reproductive health in rural Pakistan at PSI.