▁easier . ▁The ▁first ▁amount ▁of ▁lo ans ▁given ▁were ▁ 4 , 0 0 0 ▁PK R ▁( rough ly ▁$ 8 0 ). ▁ ▁The ▁initial ▁two ▁years ▁were ▁spent ▁in ▁understanding ▁the ▁market ▁and ▁the ▁needs ▁of ▁clients ▁in ▁peri - urban ▁and ▁urban ▁settings . ▁The ▁importance ▁of ▁standard ized ▁products , ▁systems ▁and ▁policies , ▁the ▁simpl ification ▁of ▁procedures ▁and ▁reporting ▁requirements , ▁along ▁with ▁the ▁significance ▁of ▁foc using ▁on ▁client ▁satisfaction ▁and ▁developing ▁clear ▁cut ▁financial ▁performance ▁indic ators ▁was ▁highlight ed . ▁The ▁action ▁research ▁phase ▁was ▁followed ▁by ▁a ▁more ▁focused ▁approach ▁to ▁manage ▁growth ▁in ▁the ▁years ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁– ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁The ▁following ▁years ▁were ▁focused ▁on ▁growth ▁of ▁organization , ▁with ▁the ▁main ▁aspect ▁of ▁this ▁phase ▁was ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁branch ▁structure ▁more ▁lean ▁and ▁efficient ; ▁an ▁aspect ▁which ▁was ▁critical ▁for ▁ens uring ▁the ▁long ▁term ▁vi ability ▁of ▁the ▁programme , ▁along ▁with ▁setting ▁up ▁a ▁c ash ▁flow ▁model ▁which ▁would ▁ensure ▁the ▁sust ain ability ▁of ▁a ▁branch ▁within ▁a ▁set ▁time ▁period . ▁By ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁K ash f ▁had ▁a ▁network ▁of ▁five ▁branches ▁in ▁L ah ore ▁and ▁a ▁client ▁base ▁of ▁ 5 , 0 8 8 ▁customers ▁located ▁in ▁ 2 1 4 ▁cent ers . ▁Pakistan ▁P over ty ▁Alle viation ▁Fund , ▁Department ▁for ▁International ▁Development , ▁and ▁the ▁Ag ha ▁Khan ▁Foundation ▁provided ▁core