KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday began implementing the Women Entrepreneurship Finance (WE-FI) Code, adopted on July 7, 2025, to address financial barriers faced by women-led businesses.
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To mark the launch, SBP organised a two-day workshop in Islamabad in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event brought together signatory banks, regulators, and development partners to develop a national action plan to promote women’s access to finance.
#SBP is building pathways to ensure women entrepreneurs can fully participate in and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.
See PR: https://t.co/GZThGRO3h8 pic.twitter.com/3Zo8UD4p3P— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) January 16, 2026
“We are building pathways that ensure women entrepreneurs can fully participate in and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth,” said SBP Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah at the workshop. He reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to fostering an inclusive financial system and promoting women’s entrepreneurship through the WE-FI Code, digital initiatives, and the banking on equality policy.
Saleem highlighted that while women’s access to financial services has improved in recent years, structural barriers continue to limit formal credit for women-led businesses. “The WE-FI Code provides a crucial and actionable framework to overcome these challenges,” he said.
SBP has mobilised 23 financial institutions — including conventional, Islamic, and microfinance banks — under the code’s action-oriented framework, alongside the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA). Workshop discussions focused on gender-intelligent product innovation, better data collection and reporting, and enhanced credit appraisal mechanisms for women-led enterprises.
Ahead of the workshop, SBP and ADB officials conducted a roadshow to engage stakeholders beyond the financial sector. They held strategic dialogues with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority to expand the code’s implementation across the broader ecosystem.
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The WE-FI Code represents a step towards creating a more inclusive financial landscape in Pakistan, empowering women entrepreneurs to access credit, grow their businesses, and contribute meaningfully to the national economy.