Rs 3,000
“Microfinance” is often defined as financial services for poor and low-income clients. In practice, the term is often used more narrowly to refer to loans and other services from providers that identify themselves as “microfinance institutions” (MFIs). More broadly, microfinance refers to a movement that envisions a world in which low-income households have permanent access to a range of high quality financial services to finance their income-producing activities, build assets, stabilize consumption, and protect against risks. Microfinance has been an intense subject of discussion in the media and public forum in its role in alleviating poverty. This is a new phenomenon here in Pakistan when compared with countries such as India, Bangladesh, etc. We at PILDAT felt the need for a platform to discuss and explore this concept in a concise and informative manner. In this context, PILDAT organized two Briefing Sessions titled “Microfinance and the Society” on Monday April 20, 2009 at Hotel Pearl Continental, Lahore, where Members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, Government Officials, Media & Intellectuals participated in the briefing, and on Tuesday April 21, 2009 at Hotel Marriott, Islamabad, where, Parliamentarians from various political spectrums participated.
