INTEREST FREE LOAN

Theme-I: Improving Economic and Social Wellbeing of the Poor through Equitable Measures (SLED)

Geographical Coverage: Multan, Lodhran, Pakpattan, Okara and Jhang Programme Duration: July 2014-June, 2025 Introduction/ Background of Programme: Alongside the government, FDO is striving hard to control the vicious cycle of poverty by providing opportunities to the vulnerable so they can establish their own micro-enterprises to enhance income and social wellbeing. With the partnership of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) & the Government of Pakistan the Interest-Free Loan (IFL) under the EHSAAS Programme is managed by a separate ministry established under Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division. It is focused that these interest-free loans are meant to enable men and women to undertake productive activities including microenterprises, thus improving rural and urban job creation and economic opportunities for Pakistani women and youth. The importance of well-defined intervention for fighting poverty is more than ever before. These Interest-Free Loans (average loan size Rs. 45,000) is provided to households scoring between 0-40 score on the Poverty Score Card (PSC), which have a viable business idea or opportunity, but little or no access to banks and micro-credit institutions. This is not the only beauty of this project in that it focuses on less advantageous people but also prefers women, people with different abilities, transgender and people who are fallen but willing to stand up and take action

  • PKRs. 1.6 Billion disbursed to the community under IFL Scheme - Ehsaas Programme and made 100% recovery during year. During the year, Program has made a related expansion in District Okara, District Pakpattan and District Jhang to benefit 2000 HHs per anum per district.
  • This expansion aims to provide PKRs 150 million to 6000 HHs per annum to start their own micro-enterprises.
  • COVID-19 Response provided by program staff was not limited towards free distribution of personal protection equipment (PPE) to the community but the team also provided rashan bags to 10,000 community members