Being unbanked does not mean women do not have the potential to contribute to the market; we have seen women in South Asia save and spend in their own ways. Research shows that when a woman gets a bank account, she builds savings, spends more on children’s education and invests in business opportunities. Pakistan has come a long way in great financial inclusion, not just for women. There are more micro-finance and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) than ever, with many NBFCs specially geared towards providing financial services to women, and particularly disadvantaged women. There is a $500-million market opportunity in Pakistan that can be tapped by getting women to start banking.

Source: The Nation September 20, 2022 03:14 UTC