PPAF micro-entrepreneurship awards on 25th
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) would distribute micro-entrepreneurship awards here on October 25 with an aim to encourage best entrepreneurs at national, provincial and regional levels.
The PPAF had fixed September 25 for submission of nominations and about 200 microfinance institutions have sent data of at least five entrepreneurs each to be considered for the awards.
Talking to newsman PPAF Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Kamal Hyat said that the awards would be presented in categories of “Best National Micro-entrepreneur Male”, `Best National Micro-entrepreneur Female’ and four “Best Provincial Micro-entrepreneurs’, with one runner-up for each category.
Special recognition awards will also be given to loan officers and representatives of microfinance institutions, he added. The PPAF has already received applications for these categories, he said adding that the applications would be screened byDevelopment Centre at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) to choose best performers.
After approval by the LUMS, list of passed candidates would be sent to members of Advisor panel for final interview of candidates to select 20 winners and runners-up on October 24, he said.
The micro-entrepreneurship awards programme 2007 is being organized with assistance of Citi Foundation, the philanthropic wing of Citi Bank.
Kamal Hyat said that the main objective of the programme 2007 is to promote the effective role that microfinance plays in poverty alleviation and also recognise the extraordinary contributions that individual micro-entrepreneurs have made to the economic sustainability of their families and communities.
The programme is being held annually to recognize and reward leadership, entrepreneurial skills and best practices of individual micro-entrepreneurs at national, provincial and regional level.
This programme is aimed at creating awareness regarding the effectiveness of microfinance as a tool in fight against the poverty besides encouraging the award-winning micro-entrepreneurs.
To a question, Kamal Hyat said that the PPAF was the largest wholesaler of funds to microcredit institutions in the country, adding that the fund has increased its outreach in 111 district and 27,500 villages besides forming 66,000 communities all across the country during past seven years.
He said that the PPAF’s cumulative disbursement stands at US $ 533 million adding that it has been working with 70 partner organizations to facilitate the maximum number of people.