SBP, Sindh Bank host Agri Finance Mela to boost financial inclusion

By Our Correspondent
February 11, 2025
Minster Livestock and Fisheries Department Government of Sindh Muhammad Ali Malkani visiting stall at Socio - Cultural Agri Finance Mela at Sajawal. — Facebook@BashirAhmed/File
Minster Livestock and Fisheries Department Government of Sindh Muhammad Ali Malkani visiting stall at Socio - Cultural Agri Finance Mela at Sajawal. — Facebook@BashirAhmed/File

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in collaboration with Sindh Bank, hosted the Socio-Cultural Agri Finance Mela 2025 in Sujawal, bringing together farmers, financial institutions and policymakers to promote agricultural financing and financial literacy. The event, supported by the government of Sindh’s local administration, featured discussions on agricultural finance, cultural performances and a prize distribution ceremony aimed at incentivising farmers. Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Muhammad Ali Malkani attended as chief guest, stressing the importance of financial access for the rural economy.

Under the leadership of SBP’s Rizwan Shamsi, the mela aligned with the SBP’s National Financial Literacy Program (NFLP), engaging multiple banks to showcase financial products tailored for farmers. Sindh Bank’s Deputy CEO Syed Assad Ali Shah and Head of Agriculture Bashir Ahmed Wasaan, along with President & CEO Muhammad Anwaar, played a key role in the event’s organisation.

The mela also featured prize distributions, including cheques and tractor keys, reinforcing efforts to empower farmers with financial resources. The initiative underscores the SBP and Sindh Bank’s commitment to strengthening the country’s agricultural sector through financial inclusion and targeted support.