LAHORE: Speakers at the 9th Pakistan Microfinance Forum 2015, organised by Shamrock Conferences, have urged the microfinance sector to generate fresh opportunities and lead the growth for micro enterprises.
The annual assembly of the microfinance sector attracted a large number of microfinance experts, social entrepreneurs, regulatory institutions, valuable contributors, banking professionals, stakeholders and other prominent personalities in the social developmental sector.
Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) Chairman Nadeem Hussain, in his address, emphasised the need to change and to be prepared for growth. He said, “The Microfinance industry is poised for growth. Our ambition is ten million customers by 2020. PMN has created the building blocks in collaboration with the industry. We are now in the execution phase.”
MF Forum 2015 Chairman and Convener Menin Rodrigues said, “Microfinance offers a long-term solution to meet national crises, besides alleviating poverty among the large rural and poverty-stricken segments of our population, which have unfortunately remained ‘unbanked’ or financially underserved for many decades now, even in this modern day and age. Therefore I would like to impress upon the policy makers the urgent need for the uplift of the micro and small enterprises.”
Khushhali Bank Limited President & CEO Ghalib Nishtar highlighted that Pakistan’s policy and regulatory framework helped in the growth of the industry; he reiterated the need for focus on MSME as investors have come to support this segment, however the funding challenge continues to override the industry.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF)Group Head Financial Services Yasir Ashfaq said, “Microfinance has a huge role in promoting financial inclusion in Pakistan which has been recognized in the National Financial Inclusion Strategy as well. Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund has been instrumental in nurturing the MF sector by providing wholesale funds as well as building financial infrastructure both at retail and the sector level.
The panellists included, ASASAH CEO Tabinda Jaffery, AAS Foundation CEO Syed Mujahid Hussain, SACHET Co-Founder Dr Rakhshinda Parveen and Fazal-ur-Rehman.
