The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), a government agency supporting microfinance institutions (MFIs), and the Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN), an association of 20 microfinance providers in Pakistan, recently announced the launch of an online platform which will focus on sharing information on microfinance providers across the country. The platform will allow MFIs to input data such as branch locations and client density, with the intent of enabling MFIs, donors, investors, legislators and policy makers to determine the structure of microfinance markets across the country. The new platform aims to facilitate policy dialogue and link microfinance with commercial sources of capital. It is slated to be supported with various workshops and conferences.
Previously, PPAF and PMN have collaborated in establishing the Credit Information Bureau, an organization that shares credit data on borrowers among its member financial institutions.
By Medha Ravi, Research Associate
About the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund:
The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is a government program established in 2000 with USD 90 million in funding from the World Bank Group development financial institutions and USD 10 million from the government of Pakistan. PPAF provides loans, grants and technical assistance to microfinance institutions and other civil society organizations in Pakistan. As of fiscal June 2010, PPAF reported total assets of PKR 23.6 billion (USD 272 million).
About Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN):
The Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN), founded in 1997, is a network of 20 microfinance providers in Pakistan that aims to promote financial access for poor people. Its main objectives are promoting an enabling environment for microfinance, disseminating information and capacity building, especially for retail microfinance institutions.
Sources and Additional Resources:
Pakistan Today news article, “PPAF, PMN join hands to develop microfinance sector”, http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/pakistan-news/Regional/Karachi/11-Apr-2011/PPAF-PMN-join-hands-to–develop-microfinance-sector
MicroCapital.org story, August 30, 2010, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund Launches Microfinance Program for Persons with Disabilities”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-pakistan-poverty-alleviation-fund-launches-microcredit-programs-35m-project-for-persons-with-disabilities/
MicroCapital.org story, July, 7, 2008 “Pakistani Government Agency PPAF (Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund) Launches USD $45 million PRISM (Program for Increasing Sustainable Microfinance)”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-story-pakistani-government-agency-ppaf-pakistan-poverty-alleviation-fund-launches-usd-45-million-prism-program-for-increasing-sustainable-microfinance/
MicroCapital.org story, July 28, 2010, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) Discussion Indicates Need for Greater Focus on Rural Areas”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-pakistan-microfinance-network-pmn-discussion-indicates-need-for-greater-focus-on-rural-areas/
MicroCapital Universe: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Pakistan+Poverty+Alleviation+Fund+%28PPAF%29
MicroCapital Universe: Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Pakistan+Microfinance+Network+(PMN)
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/
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