Dar to open microfinance summit on 8th

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will open a two-day microfinance summit on Monday.
Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, Deputy Governor (Banking), State Bank of Pakistan has confirmed to attend the summit at a hotel in Islamabad, with leaders of the sector in attendance.
To continue from July 8 to July 10, 2013, the summit will provide new insights into Pakistan’s microfinance market and why it has been rated as one of the best in world by Economist’s Intelligence Unit.
The summit is hosted by the Economic Affairs Division of the Government of Pakistan, and has been arranged by Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and UK aid.
The summit presents a unique opportunity for policy makers, microfinance professionals, trainers and other members to engage in a dialogue and highlight a wide variety of success stories, explore recent innovations, and connect with institutions that are involved in the evolution of microfinance in developing countries. Additionally, challenges and opportunities of increasing financial penetration in the country would be explored. An exhibition has been organized to showcase microfinance entrepreneurs from all corners of the country.
Distinguished and eminent speakers from the world’s leading microfinance organizations and Pakistan’s financial sector are expected to the grace the occasion in different sessions and share their strategies and discuss various challenges they face.
The first day of the summit will include plenaries and sessions on the theme “Microfinance and its linkages with Financial Inclusion” while the second day would feature discussion around the topic “Digging Deeper into Burning Issues”.
A “grand debate” will also be held at the end of first day in which leading international and national experts would discuss “microfinance growth; should it focus on poverty reduction or access to finance”.
The summit will be concluded with an address by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal. During the closing session, key stakeholders of the sector will present recommendations for policy towards sustainable growth and achievement of the sector’s next great milestone.