By Qudsia Bano
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (Wealth Pakistan): The Pakistan National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28 has been launched by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to provide formal financial access to 75 percent of the adult population by 2028 and reduce the gender gap to 25 percent. The new strategy aims to accelerate digital banking, fintech innovation, and women’s financial participation across the country.
Unveiled in the SBP’s Governor’s Annual Report 2024-25, the plan represents Pakistan’s most comprehensive roadmap for inclusive and technology-driven financial growth.
For details, visit the State Bank of Pakistan.
Goals of the Pakistan National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28
The State Bank said the Pakistan National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28 seeks to raise the inclusion rate to 75 percent and cut the gender gap in half. It builds on earlier initiatives such as the Raast instant-payments system, the Banking on Equality framework, and microfinance expansion.
Complementing this effort, the SBP launched the National Financial Education Roadmap (NFER) 2025-29 to promote financial literacy through curricula, awareness programs, and training for women entrepreneurs.
Digital inclusion and fintech growth under the strategy
The SBP report noted steady progress during FY2025. Agricultural lending rose 16.3 percent, SME financing increased 41 percent, and the number of SME borrowers climbed 57 percent. The report attributed these results to low-cost digital channels and branchless banking.
Integration with Raast Payments Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd and the PRISM+ settlement platform will further enhance person-to-person and government-to-person payments, reduce transaction costs, and improve transparency.
For context, see the World Bank’s financial inclusion overview.
Women’s inclusion and coordinated implementation
The Pakistan National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28 requires commercial banks to expand women-only branches, design credit products for female entrepreneurs, and collect gender-segregated data to measure progress.
Provincial governments have been instructed to link agricultural credit programs with the strategy’s targets, while telecom operators are supporting mobile-money penetration.
The SBP stressed coordination among ministries, regulators, and the private sector to ensure consistent execution.
Economic impact of the Pakistan National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28
The State Bank said the Pakistan National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28 will help formalize the economy, broaden the deposit base, and strengthen monetary transmission. By bringing millions of citizens into formal banking, Pakistan can boost savings, improve tax compliance, and support sustainable economic growth.
For regional comparisons, visit the Asian Development Bank’s digital finance programs.