The Socioeconomic Impact of a Customized Lending Program for Furniture Clusters in Chiniot, Punjab

doi: https://doi.org/10.35536/lje.2015.v20.i2.a6

Sajjad Mubin, Shazia Mudassir Ali and M. Ubaid Iqbal



Download Article
Abstract

This study evaluates a Punjab Government development project titled “Customized Lending Program for Furniture Cluster at Chiniot.” The project was implemented by the Punjab Government’s Small Industries Corporation at a total cost of PRs 40 million: the sum of PRs 100,000 was loaned to 400 small and medium furniture manufacturers in Chiniot, to be repaid in 22 equal monthly installments with a grace period of two months. The socioeconomic impact of the loan was determined from data collected through a survey. Overall, the project was deemed unsuccessful: on average beneficiaries’ income fell due to negative factors such as power outages and the fact that uniform loans were made to small and larger manufacturers.

Keywords

Punjab development project, Chiniot, impact evaluation, furniture industry, microfinance, Pakistan