The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Gujranwala, in partnership with HBL, is set to host a webinar titled “Digital Financial Empowerment of Women – A Key Driver of Economic Growth” on September 26, 2025. The one-hour session, scheduled from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM via Zoom, will bring together experts from the banking sector, development organizations, and academia to discuss strategies for advancing gender inclusion and empowering women through digital finance.
The event is being organized to highlight how women’s financial empowerment can play a critical role in driving Pakistan’s economic growth. As more women gain access to finance and digital tools, their participation in the economy is expected to strengthen households, businesses, and communities. The webinar will serve as a platform to explore actionable solutions for addressing barriers that limit women’s access to financial services.
The keynote address will be delivered by Muhammad Tahir, Senior Joint Director, Financial Inclusion Department (FID), SBP BSC Gujranwala. He will set the tone for the discussion by emphasizing the central role of digital financial inclusion in building an equitable economy.
The panel will include Muhammad Rashid Mehmood Cheema, Assistant Director at SBP BSC Gujranwala, who will share insights from the regulatory perspective on enabling women’s access to finance. Joining him will be Palwasha Faizan, Head of Business Strategy Mass & Konnect at HBL, who will provide perspectives on how commercial banks are innovating to serve women customers through digital banking platforms. Quratulain Mirza, an independent researcher affiliated with UNFPA and STEP, will offer analysis on the social and developmental aspects of women’s economic participation, bridging financial empowerment with broader gender equality objectives.
Moderating the session will be Mashal Mabood, Manager Sustainability & Initiatives at HBL and SBP’s lead focal person for the National Financial Literacy Program (NFLP). With her experience at the intersection of sustainability, banking, and financial literacy, she will guide the discussion toward practical outcomes that address the challenges and opportunities of digital inclusion for women.
The webinar aims to shed light on multiple dimensions of the issue. Topics include enhancing women’s digital financial literacy, ensuring safe and inclusive access to digital platforms, and designing policies that support women-led businesses. By addressing these areas, the session seeks to provide a roadmap for stakeholders to create a supportive ecosystem where women can fully benefit from digital financial services.
SBP and HBL have emphasized that empowering women financially is not only a matter of social equity but also a vital economic strategy. Increasing women’s access to financial services has the potential to unlock new drivers of growth, reduce inequality, and strengthen resilience in communities across Pakistan.
The collaboration between a central banking institution and a leading commercial bank reflects the growing recognition that meaningful change requires joint efforts across regulators, financial institutions, and civil society. With this initiative, SBP Gujranwala and HBL are contributing to shaping a more inclusive financial future for Pakistan.
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