Paper short abstract:

This study explores the economic and social impact of COVID-19 on the borrowers of micro-credit loans keeping in view the Sustainable Development Goals of reducing poverty and hunger in the rural Punjab in Pakistan.

Paper long abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic brought untold misery to millions around the world. For those who were already struggling to make ends meet, this was a particularly bad times. This study was conducted to assess the impact of the outbreak, and how the ensuing lock downs resulted in the loss of income for micro-entrepreneurs and endangering their food security in rural areas. This study, based on first-hand primary data collected from the microfinance beneficiaries, during the lock-down, provides a deep insight to how the lives of poor were impacted across the dimensions of poverty and hunger. Amongst other aspects, respondents mentioned how their businesses were negatively impacted due to the lockdown and how it affected them. our findings reveal that the pandemic has increased the income and food vulnerabilities of the microfinance beneficiaries. Furthermore, our evidence suggests that the pandemic has made the microfinance borrowers more food insecure because of their inability to withstand the idiosyncratic shocks in terms of their consumption levels.. The paper offers important public policy-related implications and provides avenues for further research.