More than 104,000 young women entrepreneurs have secured Rs. 29 billion in financing under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, highlighting efforts to expand women’s access to formal financing in Pakistan.
According to a written reply submitted by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb to the National Assembly, 104,237 women entrepreneurs had received financing under the scheme as of May 31, 2026. The figures were provided in response to a question from MNA Dr. Nafisa Shah regarding women’s financial inclusion and the barriers faced by female micro-entrepreneurs.
The finance minister said women’s financial inclusion had reached 55 percent by December 2025, while the gender gap in bank account ownership had narrowed to 29 percent.
Women and businesses owned by women accounted for 13 percent of total commercial loans and 9 percent of credit extended to the private sector as of March 2026. When microfinance borrowers are included, their share increased to 18 percent of commercial loans and 11 percent of private sector credit.
The State Bank of Pakistan has also introduced measures to improve women’s access to financing, including the Women Inclusive Finance Program. Under the Asian Development Bank funded program, participating financial institutions had disbursed more than Rs. 46 billion to 546,144 women borrowers through credit line facilities by March 2026.
The Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme was launched in January 2023 to promote entrepreneurship among young Pakistanis. Under the scheme, at least 25 percent of loans are required to be allocated to women entrepreneurs, and financing remains available to eligible women seeking to start or expand their businesses.
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