SBP, UN Women Ink MoU for Women’s Finance

Karachi, August 27, 2025, 10:15 PM PKT — The State Bank of Pakistan, Banking Service Corporation (SBP BSC) and UN Women Pakistan have forged a transformative partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost financial inclusion, literacy, and access to finance, with a laser focus on women’s empowerment and gender equality, as unveiled at a ceremony in Karachi, attended by Managing Director Mr. Maraj Mahmood and Country Representative Mr. Jamshed Kazi, per official reports. This alliance aims to carve pathways for women’s access to financial services, build resilience, and drive sustainable economic growth, tackling barriers with innovative solutions and expanded access in underserved regions.

Key initiatives include seminars, capacity-building programs, and collaborative research, alongside promoting digital financial services and enhancing women’s economic opportunities, aligning with UN Women’s gender equality goals and Pakistan’s national commitments. Web context on financial inclusion shows past gaps, while posts found on X reflect optimism mixed with caution—some cheer empowerment, others question reach. Critically, the narrative of “gender progress” may mask implementation challenges—web data hints at past delays, and X sentiment suggests distrust in effective rollout, pointing to potential hurdles.