Banking institutions asked to strengthen financial inclusion, gender equality

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi Monday asked the banking institutions to take measures to further strengthening financial inclusion and gender equality in the sector.

Besides ensuring easy and accessible financial services to women and differently abled persons, he emphasized the banking sector to focus on providing more employment opportunities and financing facilities as well as extending job training and financial literacy to them.

The president was chairing a meeting of representatives of banking industry here at the Sindh Governor House to review progress on initiatives aimed at financial inclusion of women and differently abled persons, progress on measures taken to ensure employment and financial opportunities for them, and other issues of the banking industry.

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The meeting was attended by senior officials of State Bank of Pakistan and chief executive officers of different commercial banks.

Terming meaningful participation of women in economic activities vital for progress and prosperity of the country, the president said it was encouraging to see the ratio of female in bank account holders and banking sector jobs had recorded a significant growth in previous years but still more efforts were required by the sector to promote gender equality and inclusion of all segments of the society for achieving the objectives of inclusive banking.

He said the jobs for the people with disabilities could be tailored in the banking industry and the process of bank account opening could be made easy further.

President Alvi also proposed the bank officials to explore part-time job avenues in their institutions for the household women.

Referring to the fast-paced growth of digital technologies across the world, he said the banking industry in Pakistan had to keep pace with the evolving trends with the maximum use of information technology as “the IT driven financial inclusion at the grassroots level not only encourages taxable economy, but also contributes to the country’s economic development”.

Increased use of the IT in the banking industry had also exposed the sector to frauds, and that was why a regulatory mechanism of safety and ease was equally important, he added.

The president emphasised the need for fast-track decision-making process, besides addressing banking services issues through a regulatory framework, and fair and just redressal mechanism.

Dr Alvi said creating awareness at the community level about banking issues was a global practice and urged the bankers to sensitize the people about their products and services through modern means of communication.

Public sensitization played a critical role in saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and lethal diseases like breast cancer, he added.

Urging for reviewing and updating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) regulations, the president asked the banks to do the maximum in fields of financial literacy and environment.

The SBP officials and heads of commercial banks informed the president that measures like branch-less banking, easing the process of accounts opening particularly for women and persons with disabilities and banking on equality resulted into increased ratio of women both as account holders and jobs in the banks while 2 percent disability quota was also being ensured in the sector.