SBP wants dedicated desks for women at financial institutions.

KARACHI -- The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has asked financial institutions to place dedicated desks to boost women customers and entrepreneurs' trust in the banking system.

Unveiling a policy proposal titled 'Equality policy: reducing the gender gap in financial inclusion draft', the SBP noted that banks are unable to facilitate women customers and recommended gender diversity training for staff at all customer points.

The draft policy includes feedback from selected national and international stakeholders including the Pakistan Banks' Association, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank (ADB), USAID, Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA), Karandaaz and other international organisations.

The policy note recommends financial institutions to place 15 per cent women 'Champions' at touch points in one year and 75pc women champions within three years at all touch points. The SBP said that it is important that needs of women customers are met with careful attention and towards this end, having gender diversity trained staff as champions at all customer touch points can improve women's trust and confidence in financial institutions.

In this regard, the ADB's Tool Kit on Gender Equality recommends women's desks at banks to boost economic empowerment as seen in Bangladesh and...