SBP governor: financial inclusion at 71%, gender gap down to 27%
State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad said financial inclusion has reached 71% and the gender gap has narrowed to 27%. He spoke at the opening of a four-day programme in Islamabad.
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- Financial inclusion in Pakistan has reached 71%, the SBP governor said.
- The gender gap in financial inclusion has narrowed to 27%.
- The SBP and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion opened a four-day programme in Islamabad.
- The programme brings together 38 representatives from 24 countries.
State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad said on Tuesday that Pakistan's financial inclusion rate has reached 71%, while the gender gap in financial inclusion has narrowed to 27%.
He made the remarks at the inaugural session of a four-day joint learning programme organised in Islamabad by the SBP and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI). It is the first time the programme is being held in Pakistan.
The programme brings together 38 representatives of central banks and financial regulators from 24 countries across four continents. It aims to help institutions turn inclusive green finance policies into practical measures and strengthen climate-resilient financial systems.
Participants will exchange experiences on implementing inclusive green finance policies, supporting climate-smart agriculture, and addressing barriers to implementation, including gender-related ones.
Jameel Ahmad said: "Climate finance must do more than support green investments. It must also help communities anticipate risks, build resilience and adapt to a changing climate." He also said: "The success of any policy framework is ultimately measured by its implementation and its impact on people's lives."
The floods of 2022 caused nearly $15 billion in physical damage and a further $15 billion in economic losses. They affected more than 30 million people and damaged 2.2 million homes.
On its policy steps, the SBP issued Green Banking Guidelines in 2017, introduced an Environmental and Social Risk Management Framework in 2022, and issued Climate Stress Testing Guidelines in December 2025. Pakistan is sharing its Green Taxonomy and climate risk framework with regulators across the AFI network.
On women's finance, the Pakistan Women Inclusive Finance Programme is supported by the Asian Development Bank. Pakistan joined the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code in 2025, with the SBP as the anchor institution for the financial industry. AFI's Aban Haq and World Bank Operations Manager Lasse Melgaard also addressed the session.
Why it matters
Access to bank accounts and digital payments affects how ordinary Pakistanis save, send money and get paid. The narrowing gender gap bears on women's access to formal finance.
