BankIslami launches first women-led branch

KARACHI: BankIslami has launched its first fully women-managed branch in Karachi to promote gender inclusivity in the workplace, a statement said.

The branch, operated entirely by female employees, is an initiative aimed at empowering women as both professionals and customers in the country’s financial sector. This launch also reinforces the Bank’s mission of ‘Saving Humanity from Riba’, a vision rooted in promoting ethical and inclusive financial practices across the nation.

Women’s representation in the workforce in Pakistan stands at just 21 per cent -- a figure far below the global average. With this initiative, BankIslami aims to open opportunities and break barriers in an industry that has long underserved women.

“This is about more than just business,” said CEO and President of BankIslami Rizwan Ata. “It is about creating a future where women are fully represented in the workforce and have the chance to lead and thrive. Inclusivity is not optional, it is essential.”

This initiative is supported by the Asian Development Bank’s Women’s Finance Exchange (gWFX), which is providing gender sensitivity training to BankIslami staff to help turn this vision into reality.

Group Head of Retail Banking Zulfiqar Lehri emphasised: “With this initiative, we are not only empowering our female employees by providing them with job opportunities but also offering our customers a truly inclusive banking experience. We believe this step will pave the way for greater gender diversity and set a new industry benchmark.”