KARACHI: “We are building pathways that ensure women entrepreneurs could fully participate in and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth,” said Saleem Ullah, deputy governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), while addressing at the inaugural event of the Women Entrepreneurship Finance (WE-FI) Code Consultative Workshop.
He reaffirmed the SBP’s commitment in driving forward the agenda of promoting women entrepreneurship and their access to finance for building an inclusive and sustainable financial system, as outlined in its Strategic Plan 2028, according to a statement issued on Friday.
Saleem Ullah also highlighted the SBP’s continued commitment to advance women’s financial inclusion through the Banking on Equality Policy and digital initiatives. He shared that, while access to financial services has improved, structural barriers continue to limit women entrepreneurs from getting formal credit. In this context, he emphasised that the WE-Finance Code represents a crucial and actionable framework.
The code, adopted by the SBP on July 7, 2025, aims to dismantle the financial barriers faced by women-led businesses. As the lead implementing agency in Pakistan, the SBP has mobilised a coalition of 23 financial institutions — including conventional, Islamic, and microfinance banks — alongside the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), all united under the code’s action-oriented framework.
To kick off the implementation of the WE Finance Code in Pakistan, a two-day workshop was held by the SBP, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in Islamabad, bringing together signatory banks, regulators, and development partners to formulate a concrete national action plan. The workshop concentrated on actionable strategies for gender-intelligent product innovation, improved data collection and reporting, and strengthened credit appraisal mechanisms tailored to women-led enterprises.
The consultative workshop provided a structured platform for signatory banks and partner institutions to review the existing gaps in women’s access to finance and develop a forward-looking action plan under the WE-Finance Code. Discussions focused on strengthening market segmentation for women, developing women-focused portfolio strategies and enhancing lending products for women-led MSMEs, improving data and reporting frameworks, and reinforcing institutional commitment through the WE Finance Code Charter.
