SBP Orders Banks to Hire More Women by 2028
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed banks to hire more women, raising women’s share of their workforce from 17 percent to 22 percent by December 2028.
Under its Banking on Equality Policy 2026, the central bank has asked banks to prepare action plans with clear timelines to recruit more women and improve their representation across branches and offices. ProPakistani reported the directive on Thursday night.
Banks to hire more women under SBP order
Banks have been told to prioritise posting female employees at branches and in cities of their choice, wherever possible, to address mobility challenges and help women remain in the workforce.
The SBP has also directed banks to introduce merit-based promotion policies to move more women into management positions. They will also be required to set up mentorship, coaching and training programmes to support the career development of junior female employees.
Banks must appoint more women as financing officers in microfinance, agriculture, SMEs, housing and sustainable finance, to improve access for female borrowers.
Banks must also ensure compliance with workplace harassment laws and provide maternity, miscarriage and iddat leave under applicable regulations. The directives also include daycare facilities or allowances to support working mothers.
The numbers behind the push
SBP data shows women’s share of bank staff rose from 13 percent in 2021 to 17 percent in 2025. Female employees now number nearly 50,000, with around 17,500 joining in four years.
Women remain underrepresented in senior management. The SBP cites retention, mobility limits, limited facilities and long hours as the main barriers.
Women now hold more than 78 million bank accounts, including over 45 million active ones, up 116 percent from the 2021 baseline.
Some 377,000 women in agriculture have received Rs105 billion in financing, and 2.8 million women have obtained Rs152 billion in microcredit. The growth in accounts sits alongside Roshan Digital Account inflows of more than $14 billion. The number of women-operated branchless banking agent outlets now exceeds 23,000, up 114 percent from 2021.
A policy with a track record
The SBP launched Banking on Equality in 2021 to cut gender gaps in banking and push banks to serve women better.
Feature Pakistan covered the policy’s 2026 update in October, when the SBP reported the gender gap in financial inclusion had fallen from 39 percent in 2021 to 29 percent in 2025. The new 22 percent workforce target is the next step in that plan, turning a voluntary initiative into a dated commitment with action plans banks must file.
The timing also fits the central bank’s wider confidence. SBP reserves rose for a fourth straight week to $21.57 billion, giving the regulator room to press banks on hiring and inclusion.
Why it matters for women borrowers
The directive is not only about bank jobs. More women financing officers in microfinance, agriculture and SME lending should mean borrowers are served by staff who understand their needs.
Women already borrow at scale: Rs105 billion in agriculture financing and Rs152 billion in microcredit. Meeting the 22 percent target should improve the service behind those numbers.
The test will be the action plans. Banks must file timelines for recruitment, postings, promotions and facilities, and the SBP can measure them against the December 2028 deadline, with the rupee steady near Rs276 to the dollar.
Frequently asked questions
What has the State Bank ordered banks to do?
Raise women’s share of staff from 17 percent to 22 percent by December 2028, and file action plans with timelines for hiring and support.
How many women work in Pakistan’s banks now?
Nearly 50,000, up from 13 percent of the workforce in 2021 to 17 percent in 2025. Around 17,500 women joined the sector over the last four years.
What support must banks provide to women staff?
Priority postings of their choice, merit-based promotions, mentorship and training, harassment-law compliance, maternity, miscarriage and iddat leave, and daycare support.
How many bank accounts do women hold in Pakistan?
More than 78 million, including over 45 million active accounts. Active accounts held by women have risen 116 percent since the 2021 baseline.
What is the Banking on Equality Policy?
An SBP initiative launched in 2021 to cut gender disparities in banking. It has helped reduce the gender gap in financial inclusion from 39 percent in 2021 to 29 percent in 2025.
