The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has formally launched the implementation of the Women Entrepreneurship Finance (WE-Finance) Code, marking a significant step toward improving access to finance for women entrepreneurs and strengthening their contribution to Pakistan’s economic growth. The initiative reflects the central bank’s broader effort to address long-standing structural challenges that limit women’s participation in formal economic and financial systems.
The launch was announced during the inaugural session of the WE-Finance Code Consultative Workshop, where SBP Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah outlined the central bank’s vision of creating inclusive pathways for women entrepreneurs. He stated that enabling women to participate fully in economic activity remains a core priority for SBP and aligns with the objectives set out in the institution’s Strategic Plan 2028. According to SBP, greater financial inclusion for women-led businesses is essential for achieving sustainable and balanced economic development.
Despite gradual improvements in access to financial services, women entrepreneurs in Pakistan continue to face deep-rooted barriers when seeking formal credit. These challenges range from limited collateral and documentation issues to weak credit histories and insufficient representation in traditional banking portfolios. Saleem Ullah noted that such structural constraints continue to restrict the growth potential of women-owned enterprises, particularly in the micro, small, and medium enterprise segment.
In this context, the WE-Finance Code, adopted by SBP on July 7, 2025, has been designed as a practical and action-oriented framework. The Code aims to move beyond policy commitments by encouraging financial institutions to adopt measurable actions that directly improve financing outcomes for women entrepreneurs. SBP, as the lead implementing agency, has brought together 23 financial institutions under the Code, including conventional banks, Islamic banks, and microfinance banks, along with the Pakistan Banks Association. This collective approach is intended to ensure industry-wide alignment in addressing financing gaps faced by women-led businesses.
To initiate the implementation phase, SBP partnered with the Asian Development Bank to organize a two-day consultative workshop in Islamabad. The event brought together signatory banks, regulators, and development partners to work on a national action plan for the WE-Finance Code. Discussions focused on practical measures such as gender-responsive product innovation, improved data collection and reporting mechanisms, and more inclusive credit assessment frameworks tailored to the realities of women entrepreneurs.
The workshop also provided participating institutions with an opportunity to identify existing gaps in women’s access to finance and to develop forward-looking strategies. Key areas of discussion included market segmentation for women customers, development of women-focused financing portfolios, enhanced lending products for women-led MSMEs, and stronger institutional commitment through the WE-Finance Code Charter. Improved data frameworks were highlighted as a critical enabler for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
In parallel with the workshop, senior officials from SBP and ADB conducted a roadshow with stakeholders beyond the banking sector. These engagements included institutions such as the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority. The discussions focused on policy coordination, inter-agency collaboration, and expanding the national coalition supporting the WE-Finance Code, recognizing that financial inclusion for women requires a whole-of-system approach.
Through the implementation of the WE-Finance Code, SBP aims to steer Pakistan’s financial sector toward greater inclusion and responsiveness to the needs of women entrepreneurs. By encouraging coordinated action across banks, regulators, and development partners, the central bank seeks to translate policy intent into tangible outcomes. SBP believes that increased access to finance for women-owned businesses will not only strengthen entrepreneurship but also contribute to broader economic resilience and long-term growth across the country.
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