SBP targets reducing gender gap in financial inclusion to 25% by 2028 under new policy

The State Bank of Pakistan has released a second version of its Banking on Equality policy, which seeks to shrink the gender divide in financial access to 25% by 2028, Profit by Pakistan Today reported. The 2026 edition builds on the 2021 original with tougher steps on women's staffing at banks, digital access to accounts and payments, lending to women-run businesses, and financial literacy. The policy now sets women-share targets for hiring, outreach and branchless agents, and lenders are urged to add day care for working mothers and advancement schemes for mid-career women.

Digital access also gets attention through onboarding drives, simplified accounts and digital payment incentives for women-led businesses. Lenders are also encouraged to weave a gender lens into credit planning, design simpler and tailored loan products, partner with fintech firms and digital channels, and judge creditworthiness through alternative methods for women with thin credit histories. SBP plans to track delivery through an evaluation framework, quarterly data submissions and periodic mystery shopping checks.

Profit reported that the 2021 policy was Pakistan's first gender mainstreaming effort of this type, and that the gap shrank from 39% in 2021 to 29% by 2025. Banks recruited upwards of 17,500 women through the scheme, lifting the female share of employees from 13% to 17%, and set up women's financial services units to design products aimed at women.