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World Bank approves $75 million to SPAF

Under PPAF over 10,000 community infrastructure projects have been completed, and more than half of these provide safe drinking water or access to safe sanitation, 1.2 million micro-credit loans have been provided with 99.8 per cent repayment rate; and over 200,000 people have been trained in various skills.

PPAF is an apex organisation and is currently working with 70 Partner Organisations who have formed over 66,000 community groups in more than 27,000 villages in 111 districts across the country. It aims to reduce poverty in communities by providing them with micro credit, small-scale infrastructure, training and capacity-building through civil society organisations PPAF is also helping communities rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake, by supporting reconstruction of 100,000 houses and 350 schemes including water supply, link roads, and health and education facilities in the earthquake affected areas; and training nearly 20,000 people in earthquake resistant construction methods.

This additional financing will support a new social mobilisation component and aims to mobilise five million people in 25 of the country’s poorest districts into community organisations (COs) and local support organisations. This will create the foundation for the scaling up of PPAF poverty reduction programs under the planned Third Poverty Alleviation Fund Project, and other activities; including linking with local government and development programmes of provincial and federal governments.

“The PPAF has proven tremendously effective in reaching the poor. In six years, there has been a tenfold increase in the number of loans made to poor people in Pakistan,” said Yusupha Crookes, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.