First Women Bank Limited (FWBL) and Aurat Foundation (AF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a prestigious ceremony held at Islamabad on May 26, 2016. The event was organized to showcase the products developed under ‘Women Making Strides in Economic Empowerment’ and focusing on how Gender Equity Programme (GEP) has developed a linked progress on helping women grow economically under USAID grant and recognizing the role of National Advisory Forum of GEP.

The MoU was inked by Ms. Tahira Raza, President FWBL and Ms. Anis Haroon, AF Senior Representative. Ms. Simi Kamal, Chief of Party GEP, AF and Ms. Fouzia Janjua, SVP/ Coordinator Development Cell and Strategic Initiatives witnessed the signing of MoU.

The FWBL and AF are determined to work together to strengthen, promote and create new value with an aim to provide financial services at doorsteps to unbanked women. The FWBL and AF have join hands and shown commitment to serve the women of Pakistan by changing their role from passive beneficiaries of social support to active catalyst of change and economic empowerment.

Under the MOU responsibilities FWBL will create a platform for empowering women for inculcating the habit to save money as well as get access to finance to establish new business and or develop existing business. FWBL will enhance women’s economic empowerment through capacity building, skills development and by imparting trainings on banking products, customer service delivery and support.

AF will share complete data of women population along with network support with FWBL and enable FWBL in contacting them. AF will also facilitate FWBL in identification of clusters in respective geographical regions in order to develop tailor made banking products and services that can help FWBL in the economic empowerment of Women of Pakistan.

The event was attended by leading women activists, female judges and prominent lawyers, representatives from academia, GEP Pakistan Gender Coalition members, GEP female beneficiaries from different provinces, USAID representative, media and press.