ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has disbursed Rs 184.94 billion to its 134 partner organisations in 130 districts across the country during the last 17 years.
The PPAF supports government’s social protection programme by providing a poverty graduation approach for the poorest households in over 1,600 Union Councils (UCs).
During same period, 8.4 million individuals availed the PPAF microcredit financing, 36,300 water and infrastructure projects completed, 2,000 health and education facilities supported, 440,000 credit groups and 132,500 community organisations formed, 111,000 individuals trained through managerial and skills/entrepreneurial training events, 108,000 ultra and vulnerable poor households received productive assets, and 282,000 interest free loans disbursed through Prime Minister Interest Free Loan (PMIFL) scheme.
Official sources on Sunday said around 26,000 individuals, including women and youth, were also trained under Waseela-e-Haq National and Waseela-e-Haq Sindh programme.
Giving further details, the sources said during July 2016 to March 2017, the PPAF disbursed an amount of Rs 9.207 billion to its POs.
During same period, a total of 646 community organisations (CO) were formed and 5,488 community and PO staff members were trained under Institutional Development and Social Mobilisation component.
Similarly, under Livelihood, Employment and Enterprise Development (LEED) component, 6951 individuals received skills/ entrepreneurial training and 3,212 productive assets were transferred to ultra and vulnerable poor.
Around 246,142 new microcredit loans were extended to borrowers, including 60 per cent women, and 485 Water and Infrastructure sub-projects were initiated benefitting 352,853 persons (54pc women).
Under health and education component, 754 educational and 97 health facilities were supported during the reporting period.
Around 75,655 students (43pc girls) were supported and 148,276 patients (52pc female) were treated under various ailments, 93,427 interest free loans (62pc women) were disbursed through Prime Minister Interest Free Loans scheme, 79 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) were also rehabilitated.
The sources said that overall, these projects and interventions helped around 0.9 million poor and marginalised population, including 54 per cent women beneficiaries during the period.
