Karachi, 7 to 9 October 2025 - UNIDO, through the European Union-funded Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR) programme, co-organized the 9th Annual Microfinance Conference with the Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN). The event gathered over 300 representatives from government institutions, development partners, financial institutions and civil society to explore new pathways for inclusive finance and rural enterprise development.
The three-day conference served as a platform to strengthen partnerships for financial inclusion and to promote innovative mechanisms that support rural entrepreneurship. It underscored the vital role of access to finance in driving local economic development and poverty reduction, particularly for women and youth in underserved areas of Sindh.
Among the main outcomes were two key milestones:
- Launch of the Sindh Financial Landscape Study, jointly developed by UNIDO and PMN, which provides new evidence on financial access and inclusion across Sindh. The study identifies critical gaps in rural financial services and offers recommendations to strengthen policy and programming. The report was officially launched by the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, together with Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan.
- Introduction of Pakistan’s first guarantee-based blended financing facility for rural enterprises, implemented through partnerships with the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited, Pak Brunei Investment Company Limited, Thardeep Microfinance Foundation and SAFCO Microfinance Company. The facility aims to unlock new opportunities for rural entrepreneurs by reducing investment risk and expanding access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
These initiatives form part of UNIDO’s broader work under the PAIDAR programme, a €49.55 million partnership between the European Union, the Government of Sindh and UNIDO. Running from 2022 to 2027, PAIDAR supports the implementation of the Sindh Poverty Reduction Strategy through three complementary approaches: community-driven local development, rural growth centres and urban economic clusters. Together, these components aim to improve access to services, enhance employability and strengthen local industries to create sustainable livelihoods across Sindh.
By combining inclusive financial mechanisms with enterprise development, PAIDAR is helping rural communities transition from subsistence to growth. Through its partnerships with national institutions and the private sector, UNIDO continues to promote innovation, employment and shared prosperity for the people of Sindh.
The full study is available here.
For more information please visit: https://www.paidar-sindh.org/