Women’s financial inclusion soars sharply - why gender gap needs attention?

Women’s financial inclusion soars sharply - why gender gap needs attention?

Women’s financial inclusion soars from 4% to 52% in Pakistan. File photo

December, 4 2025

(Web Desk): Women’s financial inclusion has soared from 4% to 52% in Pakistan as new data shows big gains but a hidden gender gap still demands attention.

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad said women’s financial inclusion has climbed to 52 percent, while the gender gap has narrowed to 30 percent in 2025. He shared that these improvements reflect real momentum but also highlight areas still needing focus.

Speaking at the Pakistan Women Entrepreneurship Day 2025 event, he said the occasion celebrates the creativity and success of women driving economic change, adding that no country can progress when half its population remains outside the financial system.

He noted that women’s financial inclusion has jumped from 4 percent to 52 percent, and the gender gap has fallen from 47 percent in 2018 to 30 percent in 2025. More than 17.6 million new women-owned bank accounts have been opened since 2021. He added that over 974,000 loans were issued to women-led businesses, totalling Rs230,300,000,000 between November 2024 and October 2025.

Under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024–28, the SBP aims to push overall financial inclusion to 75 percent and cut the gender gap to 25 percent by 2028.

He said SBP has used a multi-pronged approach to widen women’s access to finance, but sustaining progress requires stronger ecosystems where women can access markets, finance, and mentorship without barriers.

The Governor pointed out that many women borrowers remain in micro-level segments and still face structural obstacles. He stressed the need for an environment that supports lasting female participation in the formal economy.

He praised the banking industry for adding over 14,600 women to the workforce in three years, raising female representation from 13 percent to 17 percent.
He also mentioned the SBP’s Emerging Women Leaders Initiative and the addition of a female member to the SBP Board. Pakistan’s signing of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code in February 2025 marked another major step, with 22 banks committing to share data and expand women’s access to finance.

He highlighted more than 300 awareness and mentorship programs across 55 districts, engaging over 45,000 women, saying this places Pakistan on the global map for turning inclusion commitments into measurable progress.

Guest speakers including Dr. Zeelaf Munir, Saira Awan Malik, and Shabista Bakhtiar shared insights on opportunities and challenges for women entrepreneurs.

Awards were also presented under the Women of Impact Awards, Business Idea Competition, and Empower Her Campaign. PWED 2025 brought together policymakers, banks, development partners, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to celebrate women’s ambition and economic participation.

These numbers show real progress, but they also show how much more is needed. Many women are still stuck in small-scale finance. The new programs are helping, yet long-term change depends on steady support, easier access to credit, and fewer barriers. The direction is positive, but the journey is still ongoing.