Key Points
- Financing available from Rs 100,000 to Rs 1.5 million
- Fully digital and Shariah-compliant application process
- Funds can be used to acquire business assets and equipment
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s corporate regulator has approved a new digital financing product to improve access to capital for women entrepreneurs, strengthening financial inclusion and supporting the growth of women-led businesses.
Pakistan’s corporate watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), announced the approval of “Khud Mukhtar Khatoon” (Empowered Woman).
It is a dedicated financing facility that will enable women business owners and entrepreneurs to obtain asset financing ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 1.5 million.
The regulator said the financing will be available for the purchase of machinery, equipment and other business assets, helping women expand existing enterprises or establish new ventures.
The product will be introduced by Walee Financial Services and will operate through a fully digital and Shariah-compliant framework, reflecting growing demand for technology-driven financial services in Pakistan.
Women entrepreneurs will be able to apply for financing through the “Hakeem” mobile application, eliminating the need for extensive physical documentation and branch visits.
The financing amount will be repayable through equal monthly instalments over one year.
The launch comes as Pakistan seeks to address longstanding challenges in women’s access to formal finance.
Industry experts have frequently cited limited collateral, restricted banking access and procedural barriers as key obstacles facing women-owned businesses, particularly micro and small enterprises.
Pakistan’s financial inclusion
The SECP said promoting women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment remains a priority. Greater access to finance can help increase female participation in entrepreneurship, generate employment and contribute to broader economic growth, a Commission statement added.
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The regulator also highlighted the expanding role of non-bank financial institutions in supporting small businesses.
Pakistan’s small business support
Lending non-bank finance companies (NBFCs) provided Rs 111 billion in financing during the July-December 2025 period, according to SECP data.
During the same six-month period, nearly 7.5 million micro and small enterprises benefited from financing extended through NBFCs.
The sector’s growing importance in broadening access to credit beyond the traditional banking system highlights the need for a dedicated financial product.
Pakistan has been pursuing an ambitious agenda of digital financial inclusion in recent years.
The regulators are encouraging fintech innovation and alternative financing channels to serve underserved segments of the population.
The latest initiative aligns with these efforts and seeks to narrow the financing gap faced by women entrepreneurs, who remain underrepresented in the country’s formal financial system.
Pakistan’s women entrepreneurs represent one of the country’s most underutilised economic resources, despite growing participation in business and digital commerce over the past decade.
According to estimates from development institutions and industry bodies, women own or manage a significant share of Pakistan’s micro, small and home-based enterprises.
However, access to formal financing remains a major challenge. Many women-led businesses operate outside the banking system due to limited collateral ownership, lower financial literacy levels, regulatory hurdles and social constraints that restrict access to financial institutions.
The financing gap has been identified by policymakers and international organisations as a key barrier to the growth of women-owned enterprises and broader female labour force participation.
Pakistan’s government, regulators and financial sector have increasingly promoted digital financial services, fintech solutions and targeted lending programmes to address these challenges.
Advocates argue that expanding access to credit, business assets and digital financial tools could significantly boost entrepreneurship, job creation and household incomes. Such an endeavour could also contribute to Pakistan’s long-term economic growth and financial inclusion goals.
