Women’s Financial Inclusion in Pakistan Hits 52%

Pakistan has reached a major milestone in women’s financial empowerment, with inclusion rates rising to 52%, reflecting a transformative shift in the country’s economic landscape. The progress marks a narrowing gender gap in access to financial services, showing growing participation of women in the formal economy.

Speaking at Pakistan Women Entrepreneurship Day (PWED) 2025, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad highlighted that women’s financial inclusion has surged from 4% in 2018 to 52% today, while the gender gap shrank from 47% to 30%. Over 17.6 million new women-owned bank accounts have been opened since 2021, signaling active engagement with the financial system.

Between November 2024 and October 2025, more than 974,000 loans totaling Rs. 230.3 billion were disbursed to women-led businesses. Governor Ahmad acknowledged the banking sector’s critical role in achieving these milestones and noted that over 14,600 women have joined the banking workforce in the past three years, raising female representation from 13% to 17%.

At the State Bank, young women graduates have joined under the Emerging Women Leaders Initiative, and the central bank now has a female board member. Pakistan also became the 19th global signatory of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code in February 2025, pledging alongside 22 banks to improve women’s access to finance through data sharing, new initiatives, and leadership appointments.

PWED 2025 featured over 300 awareness and mentorship programs across 55 districts, engaging more than 45,000 women. The event celebrated women’s creativity and determination with award ceremonies, including the Women of Impact Awards, Business Idea Competition, and Empower Her Campaign Awards.

Prominent speakers such as Dr. Zeelaf Munir, Chairperson of Pakistan Business Council, Ms. Saira Awan Malik, CEO of TCS Group, and Ms. Shabista Bakhtiar, President of Women Chamber of Commerce Karachi, shared insights on opportunities and challenges in women entrepreneurship.

The celebration brought together policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, business leaders, and women entrepreneurs, highlighting Pakistan’s growing ecosystem for women-led businesses and its commitment to economic inclusion.