ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (APP): Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has disbursed Rs 181.35 billion to its 134 partner organizations in 130 districts across the country during last 16 years.
The PPAF, established as an apex governmental non-profit organization for community-driven development, has also provided financing to 8 million individuals with 60 percent of loans goes to women.
As per Economic Survey 2015-16 announced at a press conference by Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Ishaq Dar here on Thursday, over 36,000 water and infrastructure projects have also been initiated, 2,000 health and education facilities were supported, 440,000 credit groups and 132,000 community organizations formed and 680,000 staff and community members trained.
The survey said 397,000 individuals have received skills/entrepreneurial trainings, 96,000 productive assets transferred to ultra and vulnerable poor households, 150,00 interest free loans were disbursed through Prime Minister Loan (PMFIL) scheme, 26,000 individuals including women and youth trained on enterprise development under Waseela-e-Haq National & Waseela-e-Haq Sindh programme of BISP and were facilitated in establishing their successful ventures, and also 30,800 disable persons were rehabilitated.
Moreover, it said during July 2015 to March 2016, PPAF has disbursed Rs.11.96 billion to its Partner Organizations (POs) under PPAF core interventions administered under various operational units.
The outreach of PPAF has been extended throughout Pakistan and its microcredit, water and infrastructure, drought mitigation, education, health and emergency response interventions have been widely recognized.
Externally commissioned Independent studies have demonstrated positive outcomes and impact of PPAF interventions on the lives of benefiting communities related to their economic output, household incomes, assets, agricultural productivity and other qualities of life indices.
The survey said PPAF aims to be the leading catalyst in improving quality of life, broadening range of opportunities and socio-economic mainstreaming of the poor and disadvantaged, especially women.