Performance of Microfinance Providers in Sindh, Pakistan: A Study of Formal and Informal Microfinance Institutes

This research aims to analyze the performance of microfinance providers of the Sindh province of Pakistan. For this purpose, the formal and informal microfinance institutes were selected. Data was gathered from a sample of 150 managers of microfinance banks and institutions. In this research, the random sampling technique is used to collect the data through questionnaires. The OLS regression model is employed to analyze the data. The results of this study show that the number of branches, and less number of defaulters significantly affect the performance of microfinance institutes in Sindh, Pakistan. Moreover, the total cost also has an important relationship with the performance of microfinance organizations in Sindh. However, the study finds the interest rate, and more diversified financial services to have no significant impact on the performance of microfinance organizations. Due to the lack of financial information of the microfinance institutions in Sindh, there is dearth of the research on the performance of microfinance institutions. Rather than using only the published financial information this study relies on the information provided by the managers of the microfinance providers for the analysis. The results of this study have implications for the well-functioning of microfinance institutes, and for the government to achieve the poverty alleviation objectives in Pakistan