1. Launch of Policy Dialogue by Queen Maxima, UN General Secretary General Advisor for Inclusive Finance for Development
The first draft of the policy was shared with Queen Maxima for feedback during her visit to Pakistan on November 25-27, 2019.
2. Consultation with International Stakeholders
SBP held a consultative seminar on December 21, 2020 led by Governor SBP, Dr. Reza Baqir, and Deputy Governor SBP, Ms. Sima Kamil, with guest speakers Princess Zahra Aga Khan (Director AKDN), Ms. Ceyla Pazarbasioglu (IMF) and Dr. Anita Zaidi (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). The seminar was streamed live and can be viewed here.
3. Consultation with Pakistan Banks’ Association, Microfinance Banks, and Chambers of Commerce
Deputy Governor SBP Ms. Sima Kamil hosted three focused consultations during January 2020, with CEOs of commercial and microfinance banks and representatives of chambers of commerce and industries to get candid feedback on the policy.
4. Focus Group Discussions with diverse stakeholders
Governor Dr. Reza Baqir and Deputy Governor, Ms. Sima Kamil led three Focus Group Discussions with diverse stakeholders, including Federal Ministers/Senators, Advisors to PM, NADRA, PTA and SECP officials; gender experts; representatives of World Bank and FDCO UK; academia, telecom and FMCG Sector; entrepreneurs and women associations/networks and media celebrities to solicit stakeholders’ feedback.
5. World Bank’s Webinar on SBP’s Banking on Equality Policy
Lastly, to culminate the public consultation process, World Bank hosted a webinar on the Banking on Equality policy document, where Governor SBP Dr. Reza Baqir moderated a panel discussion on the policy document. The panelists included Ms. Caren Grown (World Bank), Mr. Hartwig Schafer (World Bank), Mr. Alfonso Garcia Mora (IFC), Ms. Mary Ellen (Women’s World Banking), and Ms. Parwati Surjaudaja(Bank OCBC NISP, Indonesia). The event can be viewed here.
6. Banking on Equality Policy Launch Ceremony
Banking on Equality Policy was launched on September 17, 2021, by the Honorable President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Saddar, Islamabad. The event was attended by senior political leadership and government officials, foreign dignitaries and senior representatives of multilateral organizations, president and CEOs of Pakistan’s financial industry, members from academia, and the civil society. The event ceremony can be viewed below: