Mobilink Bank fostering financial inclusion in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's largest digital Bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has put forth its 9 point agenda for the future of financial inclusion covering far-reaching and research-based recommendations in the areas of diversity & inclusion, microfinance, SME finance, housing finance, agriculture finance, digital lending, payments, savings, and insurance.

The 9 point agenda was formally launched by President & CEO, Mobilink Microfinance Bank, Mr. Ghazanfar Azzam, in the presence of dignitaries from the SBP, Securities and SECP, Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN), Jazz Pakistan, VEON and the media.

President & CEO, MMBL, Ghazanfar Azzam said: "The pandemic has made it indispensable for Pakistan to fully embrace digital transformation on a sustainable basis for wholesome socio-economic growth and development. Being an industry leader of financial inclusion in the country and as the largest digital bank, MMBL has identified key strategic areas that need immediate interventions to bring every Pakistani into the fold of financial inclusion. The development of these areas through access to finance will prove to be a game-changer for the national economy. We are committed to playing our part for the uplift of Pakistan".

Chief Finance and Digital Officer, MMBL, Sardar Mohammad Abubakr said: "Any discussion on financial inclusion must address the needs of the masses. We believe digital is a great equalizer and with the right approach, digital financial inclusion can help alleviate poverty by bringing women into the financial inclusion mainstream and enabling the all-important SME sector to have formal access to finance. A National Digital Execution Plan and public-private collaboration can help drive this agenda meaningfully forward."

MMBL strongly proposes banking the entire adult population, especially women, and facilitating easy financing of SMEs, which contribute nearly 40% of the GDP and 80% of the labor force.