PPAF HID Centre  organizes seminar on “Best  Practices  in  Microfinance”

April 29, 2009

In order to highlight the growing importance of microfinance sector in improving economic status of the marginalized the PPAF Human & Institutional Development Centre of PPAF organized an experience sharing session at a local hotel. Ms.Roshaneh Zafar, Founder & President of Kashf Foundation who is an internationally acclaimed microfinance expert was the keynote speaker on the occasion. Also present were Mr.Kamal Hyat, CEO/MD, PPAF and Mr. Ahmad Jamal, Chief Strategy Officer, PPAF.

Ms.Roshaneh Zafar said that the women should be given an opportunity to run businesses as it can help reduce poverty. She said the economic environment needs to hone pro-poor and gender sensitive. “We have to make people believe that they have to create their own destiny through small businesses,” she added.

She said microcredit is provisioning of small loans or financial services to the poor so that they could set up their micro businesses and improve their lifestyles. She said microfinance is not the only panacea to fight this menace of poverty but one of the most effective processes and its impact has been witnessed all over the world. She further added that parliamentarians, intellectuals, civil society members and policy-makers would have to play their role so that the poor become financially independent and empowered. 

The seminar also included question & hour session and was well participated by officials from the World Bank, Pakistan Microfinance Network, banks and research organizations along with  PPAF partner organizations working in the microfinance sector.

The PPAF’s HID Center has been envisioned to transform itself into a world class training institution for fostering debate and bringing about mindset change through innovative actions and activities for poverty alleviation and grassroots economic development amongst a wide range of stakeholders and their capacity building in skill enhancement.

The current seminar was the first in a series aimed at disseminating knowledge and sharing of best practices with a wider audience comprising of all the stake holders on issues related to poverty alleviation.

President & Founder, Kashf Foundation, Ms.Roshaneh Zafar, addressing a seminar on “Best Practices in Microfinance”. She is flanked by Mr.Kamal Hyat, CEO/MD, PPAF and Mr.Ahmed Jamal, Chief Strategy Officer, PPAF.