Despite progress in digital financial services across Pakistan, a new survey has revealed a major gender gap in financial inclusion. According to the Karandaaz Financial Inclusion Survey, only 14% of women have access to financial services, compared to 56% of men.
The report showed that 35% of Pakistanis now use banks, mobile wallets, or non-bank financial institutions. This marks a 28% increase in financial access over the past decade—up from just 7% in 2014. However, this growth has mostly benefited men.
While men’s financial inclusion rose by 45 percentage points, women saw only an 11-point increase, growing from 3% in 2014 to 14% in 2024. The gender gap in mobile wallet ownership is also wide: 48% of men have registered wallets compared to just 11% of women.
Regional differences also emerged in the survey of 6,624 households. Punjab topped the list with 40% financial inclusion, followed by Islamabad (38%) and Gilgit-Baltistan (33%). Rural areas and female respondents reported lower access due to limited literacy, technology use, and mobile SIM ownership.
Experts say that although mobile phone ownership among women rose from 29% to 46%, the figure still trails far behind the 82% for men. Moreover, only 47% of women own registered SIMs, restricting their ability to use digital services.
The findings highlight the urgent need for inclusive financial policies and gender-sensitive tech access to close Pakistan’s growing digital and economic divide.