New Programs Aim to Bring Thousands of Pakistani Women Into the Formal Economy
Karandaaz Pakistan has intensified its efforts to improve women’s economic and digital inclusion through its Women Economic and Digital Inclusion (WEDI) initiative. The organization recently hosted a strategic forum titled “Driving Systemic Change for Women’s Economic Inclusion,” bringing together financial institutions, regulators, and development partners to discuss ways to reduce gender-related economic disparities.
The forum highlighted Pakistan’s significant gender gap, with female labor force participation remaining below 25% and only 14% of women owning formal financial accounts, according to the Karandaaz Financial Inclusion Survey 2024. Karandaaz also presented its updated Gender Strategy aimed at promoting greater financial and digital inclusion for women.
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Karandaaz Strengthens Efforts to Promote Women’s Economic Inclusion
During the event, Karandaaz signed agreements under the Financial Inclusion for Women Challenge (FIWC) Round 5. Mobilink Microfinance Bank will provide digital banking services, financial literacy, healthcare, and savings products to 50,000 women working in agriculture, while Manzil Organization will support 9,000 rural women in Balochistan through farmland allocation, agricultural kits, and community markets.
The organization also announced a partnership with Taleem Finance to support low-cost private schools and improve educational opportunities, particularly for girls. Speakers from the public and private sectors emphasized that stronger collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, and development partners is essential to increasing women’s participation in Pakistan’s economy and promoting sustainable growth.
