Based on the constructivist epistemological point and qualitative research design, the present study attempts to explore the experiences of rural women about microcredit programs. The population of this study comprised of women beneficiaries of microcredit dwelling from District Sheikhupura, Pakistan. The purposive sampling technique has been used to select respondents for in-depth interviews. The researchers have started fieldwork with some broader questions in their minds as informed by the grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006; Jerolmack, 2007; Strauss & Corbin, 1990). These in-depth interviews and field observations enabled the researchers to draw some new themes and inferences. The researchers have included all these themes and inferences in their interview guide for further interviews. A total of 21 in-depth interviews have been conducted which include the 7 interviews at the initial stage of data collection. It was observed that microcredit has some positive as well as some negative consequences on the lives of the recipient. It was positively linked with women’s economic empowerment, improvement in their well-being, decrease in intimate partner violence, positive influence on the member’s own and their children’s health, education, and nutrition patterns. However, some of the respondents said that microcredit did nothing with their empowerment rather it indulge them in extreme poverty and increased male dominance at the household level. Keywords: Microcredit, Women Empowerment, Intimate Partner Violence, Patriarchy, Extreme Poverty, Money Lenders

The current study uses a constructivist epistemological stance and a qualitative research design. This research aims to explore the emotional experiences of the family members of irregular emigrants left behind in the rural areas of district Gujrat, Pakistan. This study is a part of a larger research project. The present research's target population comprises the male family members of the irregular emigrants in the rural areas of district Gujrat. For the present study, a snowball sampling technique has been used to select the respondents because it was complicated to identify irregular emigrants due to their hidden nature. In the first phase of the data collection, some male family members of the emigrants were contacted working in a public sector organization in district Gujrat with the principal researcher. Later on, these initial contacts facilitated the chief researcher to approach various family members of the irregular emigrants in the peripheral villages of Gujrat city. The fieldwork comprised in-depth interviews that were started with a broader discussion on the issue of irregular migration. The initial four in-depth interviews were analyzed parallel, and it led to the emergence of new themes for further interviews. A total of thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted until saturation. Three major themes emerged at the time of border crossing, family gatherings on social events and advice for the aspirants' migrants. Keywords: Irregular Migration, Emotions, Family Left Behind, Border Crossing, Pakistan.