SBP & ADB Launch $500 Million ‘We Finance Code’ to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan
In a landmark initiative to support female-led businesses, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has officially launched the $500 million ‘We Finance Code’, aimed at boosting women’s access to finance across the country.
🌟 Empowering Women Through Inclusive Finance
The We Finance Code is a game-changing effort that seeks to increase women’s financial inclusion by providing loans to 100,000 women entrepreneurs. The initiative was unveiled at a formal launch ceremony attended by SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad, Deputy Governor Saleemullah, ADB officials, and top executives from major banks.
📊 Why It Matters
Governor Jameel Ahmad highlighted that only 22% of women participate in the labor force in Pakistan, citing barriers such as limited access to finance, transportation, and digital banking tools. He announced that the SBP has been designated as the National Code Champion for the We Finance initiative.
“So far, 20 leading banks have joined this movement, and we aim to bring in more partners from academia, private sector, and financial institutions,” he added.
🚺 Bridging the Financial Gender Gap
Deputy Governor Saleemullah noted that SBP’s two-decade-long efforts have successfully raised overall financial inclusion from 16% to 67%, yet women continue to lag far behind in terms of access to banking and credit services.
🌍 ADB’s Commitment: $500 Million for 100,000 Women
ADB’s Senior Finance Director Christine expressed concern that less than one-third of Pakistani women are financially included, calling it a missed opportunity for the economy and the banking sector.
She confirmed that under the We Finance Code, $500 million in targeted loans will be distributed to 100,000 women-led businesses, supporting entrepreneurship, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
🔑 Key Highlights of the We Finance Code
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💰 Loan Pool: $500 million
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👩💼 Target Beneficiaries: 100,000 women entrepreneurs
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🏦 Participating Banks: 20 (and growing)
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📈 SBP Role: National Code Champion
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🌐 Outreach Partners: Academia, private sector, and financial institutions
🚀 Driving Change Through Financial Inclusion
The We Finance Code is part of a broader mission under Pakistan’s economic reform agenda to strengthen women’s role in the economy. With strategic support from the ADB and local banks, this initiative is expected to become a cornerstone of women-led economic empowerment.
💡 Are you a female entrepreneur in Pakistan? Stay tuned for eligibility details, application timelines, and how to benefit from this historic initiative!
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