ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (IN): The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) on Wednesday concluded its two-day international conference on inclusive and resilient economic empowerment and growth in Islamabad, bringing together government representatives, international delegates, development partners, experts and other stakeholders to explore sustainable solutions to poverty under the theme “Poverty to Prosperity.”Held on October 13 and 14, the conference aimed to identify sustainable approaches to poverty reduction, strengthen livelihood opportunities, improve access to financial services and promote the economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities.Speakers emphasised that sustainable poverty alleviation required more than financial assistance, stressing the need to link social protection with vocational training, employment opportunities, access to finance, business support and market access to help low-income families establish sustainable sources of income.Participants highlighted the importance of investment in education, healthcare and skills development, alongside the empowerment of women and youth and accelerated development in less-developed regions.
The discussions also underscored the need to protect vulnerable households against economic and climate-related challenges, including floods, illness, unemployment and loss of income.PPAF Chief Executive Officer Nadir Gul Barech highlighted the organisation’s nationwide initiatives, stating that it was working across 157 districts through 164 partner organisations. The organisation supports more than 171,000 community institutions representing 2.67 million households, with women accounting for 63 per cent of their membership.He said PPAF had disbursed 3.69 million interest-free loans since 2014, with women receiving 57 per cent of the loans and the reported repayment rate standing at 98 per cent. He also highlighted the organisation’s efforts to reduce poverty, promote small businesses, expand financial inclusion and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.The conference featured discussions on poverty graduation, enterprise development, financial inclusion, support for small businesses, youth empowerment and green growth. Speakers stressed that effective collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, development partners and local communities was essential for achieving lasting progress in poverty reduction.An exhibition held alongside the conference showcased businesses and livelihood initiatives supported by PPAF programmes, highlighting entrepreneurial activities and community-based efforts aimed at strengthening household incomes and promoting economic self-reliance.During the event, Media Excellence Awards were also presented to journalists and media representatives in recognition of their contributions to journalism and their role in highlighting poverty-related challenges and raising public awareness.
The two-day conference concluded with a renewed emphasis on collaborative efforts to reduce poverty, expand economic opportunities, promote sustainable livelihoods and empower disadvantaged communities, enabling low-income families to move towards greater financial security and lasting prosperity.
