In a significant acknowledgment of efforts to improve rural financial awareness, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), through its Banking Services Corporation (SBP BSC), held an award ceremony at its Karachi headquarters to honor banks that have played a key role in promoting financial literacy among farmers under the Agriculture Finance Literacy Program (AFLP).
Launched in 2023, the AFLP is a flagship initiative led by SBP BSC with strategic support from the SBP’s Agriculture Credit and Financial Inclusion Department (AC&FID). The primary objective of the program is to raise financial literacy levels among farmers, particularly those who are new to the banking system, as well as women and underserved rural communities. The program is aimed at demystifying formal credit systems, helping farmers make informed decisions about borrowing, and encouraging responsible financial behavior.
Now in its second year, the AFLP has expanded its reach across Pakistan with impressive momentum. In 2025 alone, the program conducted 6,326 awareness sessions, benefiting over 105,000 new-to-bank farmers, including 10,740 female participants. This extensive outreach marks a significant milestone in connecting agricultural communities to the formal financial ecosystem. Notably, 3,297 of these sessions were held in underserved districts, reinforcing SBP’s focus on inclusivity and equitable development.
To maintain quality and consistency, over 400 sessions were physically monitored by SBP BSC’s regional field offices. This hands-on supervision has contributed to the program’s integrity and ensured a standardized delivery of financial education. Beyond raising awareness, the AFLP has directly influenced financial behavior: more than 18,000 farmers who participated in the sessions went on to avail agricultural loans, with cumulative disbursements exceeding Rs. 21.47 billion.
This represents a strong improvement in the program’s conversion ratio—from 4 percent in its first year to 17.12 percent in its second. The jump indicates a significant enhancement in how effectively awareness is translating into financial action, reflecting both improved session quality and growing trust in formal banking channels.
During the award ceremony, SBP Executive Director Syed Samar Husnain addressed attendees, congratulating the high-performing banks and acknowledging the hard work of field teams involved in the program’s execution. He highlighted the broader importance of financial literacy in achieving national inclusion goals, stating, “Financial inclusion begins with awareness — not just access — and literacy is the key to converting that awareness into action.”
The ceremony brought together officials from the SBP and SBP BSC, banking industry representatives, and field-level facilitators who played a critical role in delivering grassroots financial education. Their efforts are contributing to a more inclusive financial system, where smallholder farmers are not only aware of but actively participating in the formal credit economy.
With continued momentum, the AFLP stands as a model of effective outreach and engagement, playing a transformative role in Pakistan’s rural banking landscape and laying the groundwork for sustainable agricultural finance through informed participation.