Mobilink Bank’s Commitment to Women Empowerment
Mobilink Bank has once again proven its commitment to gender equality and financial inclusion by achieving a remarkable score of 82.7 on the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Women Friendliness Grid. This milestone marks a significant improvement from last year’s score of 71.79, highlighting the bank’s ongoing efforts to create a more supportive environment for women borrowers and entrepreneurs, particularly in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
The Women Friendliness Grid serves as a critical benchmark for evaluating how accessible and inclusive financial services are for women in Pakistan. Mobilink Bank’s impressive progress stems from a series of innovative programs and strategic partnerships designed to empower women nationwide.
Innovative Initiatives and Expanding Impact
Through its flagship Women Inspirational Network (WIN) program, Mobilink Bank has trained more than 20,000 women across Pakistan. In collaboration with Care Pakistan, it has also upskilled an additional 1,500 women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The Bank’s Bint-e-Hawwa initiative has been particularly successful, increasing lending to women from PKR 6.96 billion in 2022 to over PKR 10.6 billion in 2023 — a growth of 50%.
Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, Interim CEO of Mobilink Bank, expressed his pride in the achievement: “Securing an 82.7 score on the Women Friendliness Grid reflects our dedication to driving financial inclusion and empowering women entrepreneurs. We remain committed to fostering gender equality, digital inclusion, and sustainability across our operations, and will continue to create opportunities that make a meaningful impact.”
Mobilink Bank’s focus on women’s empowerment is evident not only in its lending practices but also in its internal policies. MSME lending now makes up 40% of the Bank’s loan portfolio, valued at PKR 24.34 billion, with a growing emphasis on women-led businesses. Additionally, 33% of leadership positions within the Bank are held by women, while enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies, childcare support, and transport allowances further emphasize its commitment to gender inclusivity.
The Bank’s MobilinkHer Women Returnship Program and other female hiring initiatives have contributed to a significant increase in the representation of women within the workforce, now at 16%. This represents a 42% year-on-year rise from 2020 to 2024, both in field roles and at the Head Office.
Mobilink Bank’s impact extends beyond traditional banking sectors. Currently, 44% of its loan portfolio supports agricultural financing, with 25% directed toward women-owned agribusinesses. This focus underscores the Bank’s role in supporting women farmers and driving economic growth.
As part of VEON Group, a global digital operator serving nearly 160 million customers across six dynamic markets, Mobilink Bank is well-positioned to continue advancing financial inclusion and gender equality throughout Pakistan.
