SBP pushes for women’s economic empowerment to drive sustainable growth

October 21, 2025 (MLN): The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has placed spotlight on the crucial role of women entrepreneurs in fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Speaking at a session titled “Capital to Scale: Women Entrepreneurs as Job Creators” held at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington D.C., Governor SBP Jameel Ahmad highlighted Pakistan’s progress and ongoing reforms aimed at advancing women’s financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, according to a press release by the external communications department

The event, organized on the sidelines of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG), gathered policymakers, financial leaders, and women entrepreneurs to explore how innovative capital and systemic reforms can enhance women’s participation in the economy and create employment opportunities.

Governor Ahmad shared that SBP’s flagship initiative, the Banking on Equality policy Pakistan’s first comprehensive gender-mainstreaming framework in the financial sector has significantly narrowed the gender gap in financial inclusion since its launch in September 2021.

The number of active bank accounts held by women rose from 20 million to 37 million by June 2025, while the gender gap declined from 39% to 30%.

During the same period, financing to women increased markedly. The number of female microfinance borrowers surged by over 200%, and women’s SME and agricultural financing portfolios doubled. Banks have also recruited more than 14,600 women in the past three years, contributing to institutional diversity and employment growth.

SBP is now finalizing the second phase of the Banking on Equality policy, which will introduce digital solutions, business profiling, and remote financing channels to further empower women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In addition, SBP has adopted the WE-Finance Code a World Bank-led initiative supported by international financial institutions to bridge gender gaps in MSME financing. Pakistan’s commitment to the Code, along with 22 partner banks, marks a major milestone in building a unified national coalition for women’s financial inclusion.

Emphasizing the need for gender-positive national strategies and capacity-building investments, Governor Ahmad reaffirmed SBP’s commitment to advancing gender equality and supporting women entrepreneurs as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s inclusive economic growth agenda.

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