HBL, Kashf Empower Women with Rs 3.5B Fund

In a pioneering step towards strengthening women entrepreneurship in Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) has joined hands with Kashf Foundation to introduce a Rs 3.5 billion facility designed to empower women-owned enterprises. This initiative is a reflection of HBL’s resolve towards financial inclusion following its past efforts such as the ‘She’s Next’ initiative with Visa, which offered grants and capacity building for women entrepreneurs.

Kashf Foundation, established by Roshaneh Zafar in 1996, has been pioneering women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan. With over 382 branches in 69 districts, Kashf has had nearly 779,000 clients, providing micro-loans, insurance, and financial education specifically designed for women.

This. facility will serve to. extend affordable financing to women entrepreneurs, who can then. increase their business scale, workforce. opportunities, and contribute to. economic. development. By. overcoming the financial constraints that women typically encounter. HBL. and. Kashf. Foundation are creating the. opportunity. for. women. to prosper as. business. leaders.

This project not only secures the economic environment of women entrepreneurs financially but also becomes a benchmark for other such future joint ventures aimed at inclusive economic growth in Pakistan.