The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed banks and other financial institutions to increase female employment under its Banking on Equality Policy 2026. The move aims to create more job opportunities for women and strengthen their role in Pakistan’s financial sector.
Under the new policy, financial institutions must increase women’s share of their workforce from 17 percent to 22 percent by December 31, 2028. Banks must develop action plans with clear timelines to achieve this target.
State Bank of Pakistan
The instructions apply to commercial banks, Islamic banks, digital banks, microfinance institutions, and other regulated financial organizations.
SBP has also instructed institutions to improve hiring policies and create better career opportunities for female employees. Banks must introduce mentorship, training, and professional development programmes to help women advance into leadership positions.
The central bank has emphasized workplace safety and employee support. Financial institutions must follow workplace harassment laws and provide maternity and other applicable leave benefits.
Banks are also encouraged to offer daycare facilities or childcare allowances for working mothers.
The policy extends beyond employment. SBP wants financial institutions to improve women’s access to bank accounts, digital payments, and business financing.
Banks must work toward increasing active accounts held by women and expanding financial services for female entrepreneurs.
The central bank also aims to increase the number of female branchless banking agents to 35,000 by December 2028.
Pakistan has already made progress in women’s financial inclusion. The gender gap in access to financial services declined from 39 percent in 2021 to 29 percent in 2025.
During this period, banks hired more than 17,500 women, increasing female representation from 13 percent to 17 percent.
SBP’s latest measures support its broader goal of reducing the financial inclusion gender gap to 25 percent by 2028.
