MICRO-FINANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

Micro finance is small-scale financial services targeting the poor, and has been used as a tool to alleviate poverty since 1970s and has proved to be a powerful instrument for poverty reduction, enabling the poor to increase their income, build assets and build a shield against economic stress. Within the micro finance sector, the concept of sustainability refers to economic sustainability and has two dimensions. The first dimension is operational TAIMOOR QURESHI This paper attempts to look into the microfinance sector of Pakistan, its effectiveness and outreach and will further explore if microfinance has been effective enough to ensure sustainable development in the country. The purpose of the study is to examine the extent and efficiency of the microfinance sector, identify the lags in the system and propose feasible recommendations. The study examines microfinance at micro, meso and macro levels. The study highlights the performance of microfinance sector, outreach and efficiency of micro-savers, micro-insurance and assets an