The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed commercial banks to increase women’s workforce representation. Banks must raise the current share from 17 percent to 22 percent by December 2028.
The instruction comes under the central bank’s Banking on Equality Policy 2026. The policy aims to improve women’s participation across Pakistan’s banking sector.
The State Bank has asked commercial banks to prepare detailed action plans. These plans must include clear timelines for recruiting and retaining more female employees.
Banks must also improve women’s representation across their branches and offices. The policy focuses on creating better career opportunities for women throughout the industry.
Banks Asked to Improve Women’s Workplace Representation
The State Bank has instructed banks to consider women’s mobility challenges when assigning employees. Banks should prioritise posting female staff at branches and locations of their choice, wherever possible.
The measure aims to help women remain employed and manage workplace responsibilities. It also seeks to address difficulties associated with travel and relocation.
Banks must introduce merit-based promotion policies for female employees. These policies should help more women reach management and senior leadership positions.
The regulator has also directed banks to establish professional development programmes. These should include mentorship, coaching, and training opportunities for junior female employees.
More Women to Receive Financing-Related Roles
The State Bank has also encouraged banks to appoint more women as financing officers. The focus includes several important financing sectors.
These sectors include microfinance, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, housing, and sustainable finance.
The initiative aims to improve financial access for female borrowers. More women working in financing roles could also help banks better understand their customers’ requirements.
Banks must also follow applicable workplace harassment laws. They are required to provide maternity, miscarriage, and iddat leave under relevant regulations.
The instructions also cover facilities for working mothers. Banks must provide daycare facilities or suitable allowances to support female employees.
Female Employees Reach Nearly 50,000 in Banking Sector
According to State Bank data, women’s share of the banking workforce has increased in recent years.
Female representation rose from 13 percent in 2021 to 17 percent in 2025. The total number of female banking employees has reached nearly 50,000.
Around 17,500 women joined the banking sector during the previous four years. However, women remain underrepresented in senior management and decision-making positions.
The central bank has identified several challenges affecting women’s employment. These include employee retention, mobility restrictions, limited workplace facilities, and long working hours.
Women’s Financial Inclusion Also Improves
The State Bank has also reported progress in women’s financial inclusion. Women now hold more than 78 million bank accounts across the country.
More than 45 million of these accounts are active. Active accounts held by women have increased by 116 percent compared with the 2021 baseline.
Women in agriculture have also received significant financing. Nearly 377,000 female agricultural borrowers have obtained loans worth Rs. 105 billion.
Meanwhile, around 2.8 million women have received microcredit. The total financing under these loans amounts to Rs. 152 billion.
The number of women-operated branchless banking agent outlets has also exceeded 23,000. This represents a 114 percent increase compared with the 2021 baseline.
Banking on Equality Policy Aims to Reduce Gender Gaps
The State Bank introduced its Banking on Equality initiative in 2021. Its main objective is to reduce gender disparities in the financial sector.
The initiative also encourages banks to develop financial services suited to women’s needs. According to the central bank, the gender gap in financial inclusion declined from 39 percent in 2021 to 29 percent in 2025.
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Under the latest policy, banks must now work towards increasing female workforce representation to 22 percent by December 2028. The measures also aim to improve women’s career development and access to financial services.
