The role of financial services in empowering women: A case of microfinancing banks in District Ghizer

Abstract

Empowering women through financial inclusion has emerged as a crucial approach for sustainable development, particularly in rural and remote regions like District Ghizer in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. No matter various initiatives, women in these areas hold to stand structural boundaries together with confined get entry to formal economic services, cultural regulations, and decreased selection-making power. The present research explores the impact of microfinance offerings on women empowerment, focusing on key dimensions which include profit generations, savings, ownership of belongings, mobility, and participation in household selections. A complete of 250-woman microfinance customers had been surveyed the use of a structured questionnaire. The information has been analyzed thru cross tabulation, correlation and logistic regression to evaluate both institutions and predictive relationships. Outcomes imply a widespread and fine association among get right of entry to microfinance and women’s economic and social empowerment. But, the findings also spotlight that contextual factors inclusive of low financial literacy and traditional gender roles preserve to restrict the whole capability of microfinance interventions. Strengthening the attain and layout of microfinance services, along community-based recognition and training programs, is critical for accomplishing lasting empowerment consequences.

 Keywords: Women Empowerment, Microfinance, Financial Inclusion, Logit Model, Ghizer