The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed commercial banks to increase women’s representation in their workforce from the current 17% to 22% by December 2028 under its Banking on Equality Policy 2026. The move aims to improve gender diversity, expand career opportunities for women, and strengthen their representation across the banking sector.
The central bank has instructed banks to prepare action plans with clear recruitment targets and timelines. Financial institutions have also been asked to prioritise posting female employees at branches and in cities of their choice, wherever possible, to address mobility challenges and improve staff retention.
Banks must introduce merit-based promotion policies to increase women’s representation in management positions. They are also required to establish mentorship, coaching, and training programmes to support the professional development of female employees.
The SBP has further directed banks to appoint more women as financing officers, particularly in microfinance, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), housing, and sustainable finance. The initiative is intended to improve women’s access to financial services and financing opportunities.
The directives also require banks to comply with workplace harassment laws and provide maternity, miscarriage, and iddat leave under applicable regulations. Banks have also been asked to arrange daycare facilities or allowances to support working mothers.
According to SBP data, women’s share of the banking workforce increased from 13% in 2021 to 17% in 2025. The number of female employees has reached nearly 50,000, with approximately 17,500 women joining the sector over the last four years. However, women remain underrepresented in senior management and decision-making roles.
The central bank has also reported progress in women’s financial inclusion. Women now hold more than 78 million bank accounts, including over 45 million active accounts. Active accounts held by women have increased by 116% compared with the 2021 baseline.
Meanwhile, nearly 377,000 women in agriculture have received financing worth Rs. 105 billion, while around 2.8 million women have obtained microcredit amounting to Rs. 152 billion. Women-operated branchless banking agent outlets have also exceeded 23,000, marking a 114% increase from the 2021 baseline.
Introduced in 2021, the SBP’s Banking on Equality initiative aims to reduce gender disparities in the financial sector and encourage banks to develop services tailored to women’s needs. The initiative has helped reduce the gender gap in financial inclusion from 39% in 2021 to 29% in 2025.
