In a keynote address at Pakistan Women Entrepreneurship Day 2025, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad presented an update on the central bank’s efforts to expand women’s access to formal financial services, reporting that women’s financial inclusion has increased to 52%. He framed the next phase as sustaining progress by strengthening the ecosystem for women-led businesses to access finance, markets and mentorship. The Governor said women’s financial inclusion rose from 4% to 52%, while the gender gap narrowed from 47% in 2018 to 30% in 2025. He reported that more than 17.6 million new women-owned bank accounts have been opened since 2021, and that over 974,000 loans amounting to PKR 230.3 billion were disbursed to women-led businesses between November 2024 and October 2025. He also cited changes within banks, including 14,600 women joining the banking workforce over the past three years, lifting the share of female employees from 13% to 17%, and referenced Pakistan’s February 2025 accession to the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code, under which SBP and 22 banks pledged data sharing and new actions to improve access to finance. The central bank also pointed to more than 300 awareness and mentorship programmes delivered across 55 districts, reaching over 45,000 women.
State Bank of Pakistan 2025-12-03
State Bank of Pakistan reports women’s financial inclusion has reached 52% and women-led business lending totalled PKR 230.3 billion
State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad reported a rise in women's financial inclusion to 52% and a narrowing gender gap from 47% in 2018 to 30% in 2025. Over 17.6 million new women-owned bank accounts have been opened since 2021, with loans totaling PKR 230.3 billion disbursed to women-led businesses. The central bank also highlighted increased female employment in banking and Pakistan's accession to the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code.