Arbab Ali
Karachi: The 9th Annual Microfinance Conference (AMC-9), organized by the Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the EU-funded PAIDAR Program, concluded in Karachi with a renewed commitment to innovation, resilience, and inclusivity as the cornerstones of Pakistan’s financial future.
Held under the theme “Renaissance of Microfinance,” the three-day event brought together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, development partners, fintech leaders, and civil society representatives to explore how microfinance can drive poverty reduction, rural development, and equitable economic transformation.
In his opening remarks, Amir Khan, Chairman of PMN, emphasized the need for renewed partnerships and technological innovation to strengthen microfinance’s role in building inclusive growth. Muneer Kamal, CEO and Secretary General of the Pakistan Banks Association, echoed the sentiment, calling for greater collaboration across the financial ecosystem to address emerging challenges in access to credit.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Carlo De Rosa, Development Advisor for Rural Development and Nutrition, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s equitable growth agenda. He stressed the importance of blending grants with innovative financial instruments to reach women, youth, minorities, and landless farmers.
The conference saw the launch of two major financial inclusion initiatives:
- The Asian Development Bank’s USD 30 million Credit Guarantee Facility under the Women Inclusive Finance Programme, aimed at de-risking loans for women entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises.
- A Guarantee-Based Blended Finance Facility for Rural Enterprises launched by UNIDO and partners, designed to expand access to credit for underserved communities through a mix of grants, concessional loans, and guarantees.
A regulatory dialogue with SECP Commissioners Zeeshan Khattak and Mujtaba Lodhi reaffirmed the regulator’s support for inclusive financial services, flexible frameworks, and microinsurance expansion.
A fireside chat between Amir Khan and Saleem Ullah, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), focused on adaptive financial products for smallholder farmers and climate-affected microenterprises.
One of the key highlights of AMC-9 was the unveiling of “Sindh’s Financial Landscape: A Step Towards Promoting Inclusive Finance.” Developed under the EU-funded PAIDAR Programme with PMN, the report provides an in-depth analysis of financial access barriers in rural Sindh and proposes a roadmap to bridge formal and informal finance gaps through blended finance models and tailored solutions for MSMEs, women, and youth.
The closing ceremony, attended by SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, underscored a shared resolve to translate conference recommendations into actionable reforms and strengthen the foundation for inclusive and sustainable finance across Pakistan.
