Pakistan is the 5^th most populous country in the world, with 220 million people^[1]. It is a developing country with a semi-industrial and agriculture economy. Pakistan’s population is projected to increase to over 227 million by 2025. The population comprise of a much larger proportion of youth (63% below the age of 30 years)^[2]. These demographic projections raise a number of issues for Pakistan, primarily how to absorb such a significant portion of youth into the workforce. Micro and small enterprises are the economic backbone of the Pakistani economy. There are almost 3.3 million SMEs in Pakistan, representing 30% of Pakistan’s GDP. They increase employment and reinvest in local communities. However, entrepreneurs—especially women—remain unserved or underserved by financial and non-financial service providers. Now is the time to act. Just 21% of the Pakistani population has access to formal banking services, while only 7% of women have a financial services account. Women are 38% less likely than men to own a cell/phone and 49% less likely to use mobile internet. % of women are engaged in entrepreneurial activities as opposed to 21% of men. Women entrepreneurs lack access to finance, are viewed as “riskier” clientele by banks, and require a male guarantor when taking out loans.

Lack of economic opportunities caused irregular migration from Pakistan to seek a better life in Europe and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. CIP recognizes the fact that the global pandemic of COVID-19 is a mega economic crisis that has forced businesses to shut down and unemployment. It is observed that thousands of Pakistani migrants employed in the international labor market in over 100 countries have faced the worst forms of economic hardship, loss of jobs, and poor quality of life with no access to social welfare systems since the start of the pandemic. A lot of Pakistani migrant workers returned home with the hope to find livelihood opportunities but upon return, they were exposed to numerous reintegration challenges. Pakistan, being a developing country, has limited financial resources to offer assistance and livelihood opportunities to returning population. In the past few years, especially after the pandemic, social and economic reintegration of returning migrants has emerged as an important issue. The gravity of the issue requires a long-term systematic approach and joint efforts by government and international/ national non-government organizations.  This will also be explored how micro-entrepreneurs returned to Pakistan can be re-integrated and economically empowered.

CARE International in Pakistan implement program to growth-oriented entrepreneurs, contributing to a resilient and inclusive economy. It also supports the Government’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy for enhanced formal financial access. The program consists of CARE’s global Ignite Program, in partnership with the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth to support 45000 entrepreneurs to access the loan and 3000 entrepreneurs were provided with the training program.

1. A.      Purpose and scope of the study

The purpose of this study is;

1. To assess the impact on business growth of entrepreneurs supported through financial and training programs in intervention cities of Pakistan i.e. Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi in Punjab and Karachi and Hyderabad in Sindh province.
2. To assess the viability and profitable businesses for potential entrepreneurs (Local and Returnees), identify profitable trades to initiate enterprise and opportunities for business in the digital world to scale up the program.