Total amount and utilization of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund

According to the information made available to the National Assembly by Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, (Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar), the total funds available with PPAF as of December 31, 2013 are over Rs. 25 billion as per following breakup:

For Microcredit: Rs.18.0 billion
For Grants: Rs. 7.6 billion

As of December 31, 2013, Rs. 17 billion (out of available 18 billion) have been deployed for access to microcredit. Since commencement of operations in April 2000 to December 31, 2013,
PPAF has disbursed Rs. 90 billion for microcredit in 5.6 million cases.

The funds provided to PPAF for microcredit are used for on-lending to Partner Organizations (POs). The POs provide microcredit loans to individuals/ communities following a demand driven approach.

A significant portion of PPAF funding (around 75%) is provided for microcredit in the rural areas where most of the poor exist. These loans are used mainly in agriculture, commerce and livestock sectors. As of December 31, 2013 the number of active borrowers financed by POs is 900,000 of which 55% are women. Grant funds are provided to POs for small scale water and infrastructure schemes; health and education interventions; social mobilization; livelihood enhancement and disaster management, etc. A total of Rs. 7.6 billion available with PPAF at present will be used for these activities for which commitments have already been made. Since April 2000 to December 31, 2013 PPAF’s outreach has been as follows:
Districts: 121
Partner Organizations: 126
Villages/Settlements: 98,000
Community Organizations formed: 121,500
Credit/Common interest groups formed: 348,000

Note: The above information is based on the question & sessions of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Please visit the official website of the National Assembly for details.

About National Assembly: The National Assembly of Pakistan is the country's sovereign legislative body. It embodies the will of the people to let themselves be governed under the democratic, multi-party Federal Parliamentary System. The National Assembly makes laws for the Federation in respect of the powers enumerated in the Federal Legislative list. Through its debates, adjournment motion, question hour and Standing Committees, the National Assembly keeps as check over the Executive and ensures that the government functions within the parameters set out in the Constitution and does not violate the fundamental rights of citizens. Only the National Assembly, through its Public Accounts Committee, scrutinizes public spending and exercises control of expenditure incurred by the government.

Tags: Pakistan, Economics, Business

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