Pakistani Micro Finance Bank MMBL Joins GSMA's Connected Women Commitment Initiative

A global digital operator that provides converged connectivity and online services, has announced that its banking operation in Pakistan Mobilink Microfinance Bank Ltd (MMBL), has signed up to the GSMA’s Connected Women Commitment Initiative. This names Mobilink the first microfinance bank in the world to do so.

Set up in 2016, the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative aims to accelerate digital and financial inclusion for women across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Since its inception, over 40 mobile operators have made formal commitments. The commitment initiative’s benefit has collectively brought mobile internet and mobile money services to over 55 million additional women.

MMBL currently has over 16 million monthly active customers across Pakistan, 100+ branches, and over 200,000 branchless banking agents. The microfinance bank plans to leverage its extensive reach across the country to bring to life GSMA’s Connected Women Commitment Initiative’s aim. It will encourage the adoption of digital technology amongst women, to improve financial inclusion in the region.

MMBL will run different programs to bring tailored offerings to boost number of female customers. More and more women across Pakistan will be reached with digital financial services. The Bank intends to boost the proportion of female customer base by 15 percent. By 2025, it plans to add 600,000 customers.

“Female micro-entrepreneurs are key to Pakistan’s successful future and the GSMA is rightly focusing on them,” states Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group. “The adoption of mobile technology and the use of digital operator services have the power to transform entire sectors of society and bring prosperity to millions. Through its existing strong relationships with women across Pakistan, and its close relationship with Jazz Pakistan- our telco arm, MMBL is perfectly positioned to deliver on the ambitions of the GSMA’s Connected Women Commitment Initiative.”

With this move MMBL becomes one of the many mobile operators from around the world to have committed to reducing the gender gap in their customer base. This goes for both mobile internet and mobile money services.