The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced good news for women in the country by launching the second edition of its Banking on Equality Policy.
As per the officials, the policy aims to provide women greater access to banking services, digital payments and financing opportunities traditionally more accessible to men.
The SBP by launching the policy’s second term on October 13, said the Banking on Equality Policy 2026 would encourage banks to develop financial products tailored to women’s needs, expand digital banking facilities and increase lending to women-owned businesses.
The policy seeks to narrow the gender gap in financial inclusion by making it easier for women to open bank accounts, access credit, make digital payments and participate in the formal economy.
It also calls on banks to improve women’s representation in their workforce and provide more opportunities for female employees to advance into leadership positions.
Under the policy, banks are encouraged to introduce simplified digital accounts for women, promote digital payment facilities for women-led businesses and develop financing products for female entrepreneurs.
The SBP has also called for alternative methods of assessing creditworthiness to help women who lack formal credit histories or conventional collateral qualify for financing.
These measures are intended to reduce barriers that can prevent women from accessing financial services on terms comparable to men.
Banks have also been asked to set targets for hiring women, reaching female customers and increasing women’s representation among branchless banking agents.
The policy encourages banks to provide childcare facilities for working mothers and introduce career development programmes to help women progress into senior positions.
The latest edition builds on the first Banking on Equality Policy, introduced in 2021.
According to the SBP, Pakistan’s gender gap in financial inclusion narrowed from 39% in 2021 to 29% in 2025 during the implementation of the first policy.
Banks hired more than 17,500 women over the same period, while women’s share of the banking workforce increased from 13% to 17%.
Banks also established dedicated teams to develop financial products and services aimed at women.
The SBP said it would monitor implementation of the new policy through quarterly data reporting, regular evaluations and mystery shopping exercises.
The policy supports Pakistan’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which aims to reduce the gender gap in financial inclusion to 25% by 2028.
It also seeks to improve women’s financial literacy and support their participation in entrepreneurship by making banking services and business financing more accessible.
The SBP said the policy had been finalised after consultations with local and international stakeholders.
