Since 1990, development organizations are taking
microfinance as a window of hope which could
contribute to economic development. It can facilitate
poverty reduction through an improved quality of life
on the one hand, and women s empowerment on the
other. Reaching and empowering women has become one
of the core objectives of the microfinance programs
world wide which also contribute to the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). It is argued that access to
financial services can empower women to become more
confident, assertive, more likely to participate in
family and community decisions, and better able to
confront systemic gender inequities.
Microfinance organizations in Pakistan focus mainly
on the growth and outreach. They take
poverty reduction measures into account rather than
focusing on the empowerment aspect of women
clients. This study analyzes the significance of
microfinance on women empowerment in Pakistan and
evaluate whether women clients have become
economically and socially empowered through the
support of microfinance organizations. This study
also analyzes the impact of microfinance services on
the well-being of the clients families.
microfinance as a window of hope which could
contribute to economic development. It can facilitate
poverty reduction through an improved quality of life
on the one hand, and women s empowerment on the
other. Reaching and empowering women has become one
of the core objectives of the microfinance programs
world wide which also contribute to the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). It is argued that access to
financial services can empower women to become more
confident, assertive, more likely to participate in
family and community decisions, and better able to
confront systemic gender inequities.
Microfinance organizations in Pakistan focus mainly
on the growth and outreach. They take
poverty reduction measures into account rather than
focusing on the empowerment aspect of women
clients. This study analyzes the significance of
microfinance on women empowerment in Pakistan and
evaluate whether women clients have become
economically and socially empowered through the
support of microfinance organizations. This study
also analyzes the impact of microfinance services on
the well-being of the clients families.