The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurship.
The central bank endorsed the Women Entrepreneurship Finance (WE-FI) Code to improve women’s access to finance.
The announcement was made during the first consultative workshop on the Code in Islamabad.
Deputy Governor of SBP, Saleem Ullah, highlighted the importance of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan’s economic growth.
He said the SBP is creating mechanisms for women to actively contribute to the country’s financial development.
The initiative aligns with the SBP Strategic Plan 2028, focused on an inclusive and sustainable financial system.
Saleem Ullah also emphasized ongoing SBP efforts through the Banking on Equality Policy.
He noted that digital financial solutions are being promoted to enhance women’s financial inclusion.
However, he acknowledged that structural challenges still limit women entrepreneurs from accessing formal loans.
In this context, the WE-FI Code provides a practical solution.
The WE-FI Code was officially endorsed by the SBP on July 7, 2025.
It aims to meet the financial needs of women-led businesses across Pakistan.
Under this framework, SBP has brought together 23 financial institutions, including conventional, Islamic, and microfinance banks.
The Pakistan Banks Association is also participating to implement action-oriented strategies.
To launch the Code, SBP, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held a two-day workshop in Islamabad.
The event gathered signatory banks, regulators, and development partners.
Participants collaborated to create a national action plan for promoting women entrepreneurship finance.
Officials said the Code will help women access formal financial services more easily.
It will also encourage banks to design gender-responsive products and lending solutions.
SBP expects that the initiative will strengthen Pakistan’s inclusive financial ecosystem over the coming years.
The workshop included discussions on digital tools, policy measures, and strategies to overcome barriers faced by women-led businesses. SBP’s commitment through the WE-FI Code marks a significant step toward economic empowerment of women in Pakistan.
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By promoting financial inclusion, the SBP aims to ensure women entrepreneurs can contribute fully to Pakistan’s sustainable economic growth.
